A plain language guide to the Social Economy

George Clark, October 2003

This plain language guide to the social economy includes two one-page documents and a short reference list. The focus is on Scotland but the underlying principles apply everywhere. The following questions are answered.

• What is economics about?
• Who drives the economy?
• How have economic systems changed in recent times?
• How big is the social economy?
• How are social economy organisations different from public and private sector ones?
• How can social capital be developed?
• What do social economy organisations do?
• What themes are covered by social economy organisations in Scotland?
• References

References

Scottish Executive (January 2003) "A review of the Scottish Executive's Policies to promote the Social Economy" (28pp - pdf)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/social/rose-00.asp

IFG (2002) "A Better World is Possible - alternatives to economic globalisation" Report Summary (22pp - pdf)
http://www.citizen.org/trade/issues/alternatives/index.cfm  

Bezerra, Jaerson Lucas () Economic Policies, Ideologies and Geocultural Dimension; Alliance for a responsible, diverse and united world. 6pp
http://ecopol.socioeco.org/documents/3rtf_StDocEcoEn.rtf  

Arruda, Marcos (1999) A socioeconomy of solidarity and the nation-state; Alliance for a responsible, diverse and united world. 4pp
http://ecopol.socioeco.org/en/ressourcesdocuments.html