Difference between revisions of "Utilité sociale/Social Impact"
(Created page with "{{Ebauche}} "There is no single, consensual definition definition of social utility. However, it is possible to distinguish two approaches. * The first, which is simplistic and subsidiary, is deduced from legislation on the taxation of associations and subsidised employment. An initiative or activity is deemed to be socially useful if it meets social needs that are not covered by the market or public authorities, and is aimed at people in need of integration or who are...") |
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"There is no single, consensual definition definition of social utility. However, it is possible to distinguish two approaches. | "There is no single, consensual definition definition of social utility. However, it is possible to distinguish two approaches. | ||
The first, which is '''simplistic and subsidiary''', is deduced from legislation on the taxation of associations and subsidised employment. An initiative or activity is deemed to be socially useful if it meets social needs that are not covered by the market or public authorities, and is aimed at people in need of integration or who are socially vulnerable. | |||
The second, '''more general definition''' refers to the capacity of an economic organisation with a social purpose to carry out its project and/or fulfil its mission effectively and to make the most of the external effects of its actions. | |||
This definition does not specify a priori the criteria for social utility, as a project produces '''multidimensional effects'''. Jean Gadrey <ref> Gadrey J. (2006)., « L’utilité sociale », in : J-L. Laville, A. D. Cattani (Dir.) Dictionnaire de l’autre économie, Gallimard, Paris, p.641-651.</ref> distinguishes five components: | |||
* economic (efficiency, social costs avoided, new activities, response to unmet needs, etc.), | |||
* social (inclusion, equal access, diversity, social cohesion, etc.), | |||
* political (co-construction of the general interest, active citizenship, popular education, participatory democracy), | |||
* ecological and territorial (activities and jobs that cannot be relocated, short circuits, etc.)."<ref>from Appui à l’émergence et au développement d’initiatives d’économie solidaire, MES, 2023</ref> | |||
== Equivalent concepts == | == Equivalent concepts == | ||
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== Public policies associated with this issue == | == Public policies associated with this issue == | ||
In France, three public policies have shaped the public authorities' approach to social utility: taxation of associations; subsidised employment policies and the law on the social economy (2014).Article 2 of this law broadens the criteria for social utility: "providing, through their activity, support for people in vulnerable situations", plus "fighting inequality", "educating citizens", strengthening "territorial cohesion", "sustainable development" and "international solidarity". | In France, three public policies have shaped the public authorities' approach to social utility: taxation of associations; subsidised employment policies and the law on the social economy (2014). Article 2 of this law broadens the criteria for social utility: "providing, through their activity, support for people in vulnerable situations", plus "fighting inequality", "educating citizens", strengthening "territorial cohesion", "sustainable development" and "international solidarity". | ||
== Main networks working on this issue == | == Main networks working on this issue == | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Revision as of 11:08, 14 June 2023
"There is no single, consensual definition definition of social utility. However, it is possible to distinguish two approaches. The first, which is simplistic and subsidiary, is deduced from legislation on the taxation of associations and subsidised employment. An initiative or activity is deemed to be socially useful if it meets social needs that are not covered by the market or public authorities, and is aimed at people in need of integration or who are socially vulnerable.
The second, more general definition refers to the capacity of an economic organisation with a social purpose to carry out its project and/or fulfil its mission effectively and to make the most of the external effects of its actions.
This definition does not specify a priori the criteria for social utility, as a project produces multidimensional effects. Jean Gadrey [1] distinguishes five components:
- economic (efficiency, social costs avoided, new activities, response to unmet needs, etc.),
- social (inclusion, equal access, diversity, social cohesion, etc.),
- political (co-construction of the general interest, active citizenship, popular education, participatory democracy),
- ecological and territorial (activities and jobs that cannot be relocated, short circuits, etc.)."[2]
Equivalent concepts
Utilité sociale, social impact
History of the concept
"The term "utilité sociale (social utility)" emerged in France in the late 1990s in the non-profit sector, and at the time it referred to the need for non-profit organisations managing services to highlight their contribution to society and their contribution to the "general interest (intérêt général)".
- Demonstrating the social utility of their actions and results became a growing requirement of public authorities and citizens alike, as the non-profit nature (or limited profitability) and disinterested management of voluntary organisations no longer sufficed to justify specific public funding.
- In the 2000s, social utility was claimed by many actors and institutions as: a marker of a non-statutory approach to the SSE field (e.g. the APES progress approach); a label for solidarity-based, fair trade and ecological practices (e.g. fair trade); a criterion for a new company status (e.g. the SCIC); a funding criterion for calls for projects from local authorities or foundations; a subject of research and an evaluation method". [3]
Public policies associated with this issue
In France, three public policies have shaped the public authorities' approach to social utility: taxation of associations; subsidised employment policies and the law on the social economy (2014). Article 2 of this law broadens the criteria for social utility: "providing, through their activity, support for people in vulnerable situations", plus "fighting inequality", "educating citizens", strengthening "territorial cohesion", "sustainable development" and "international solidarity".
Main networks working on this issue
Links
- ↑ Gadrey J. (2006)., « L’utilité sociale », in : J-L. Laville, A. D. Cattani (Dir.) Dictionnaire de l’autre économie, Gallimard, Paris, p.641-651.
- ↑ from Appui à l’émergence et au développement d’initiatives d’économie solidaire, MES, 2023
- ↑ from Appui à l’émergence et au développement d’initiatives d’économie solidaire, MES, 2023