Public Policy and the Social and Solidarity Economy

In recent decades, there have been signs that governments and political parties are adopting policies that are more supportive of the social and solidarity economy (SSE). This entry describes and assesses what states are doing to promote SSE. It begins by highlighting a number of trends and innovations that characterize the turn towards SSE within public policy. The second section provides an overview of the expanding portfolio of policy measures available to governments and parliaments. While recent policy innovations often support the scaling up and strengthening of SSE, they can occur in political, institutional and macro-economic contexts that constrain their effectiveness. The entry considers the opportunities, risks and challenges involved. It ends by noting institutional and political conditions that could address the ongoing fragility and fragmentation of public policy support for SSE.