Finding the right framework conditions for the social economy to thrive

At the OECD, we provide step-by-step guidance on establishing conducive conditions and legal frameworks for the social economy. We also conduct national and regional reviews to offer insights into strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating targeted interventions and resource allocation.

Overall, an enabling environment that includes clear roles and responsibilities for institutions, legal clarity and recognition for social economy entities, opportunities for scalability, access to market and non-market resources, and reliable data to track progress is crucial for the sustained growth and global reach of the social economy.

20 March 2023 | HYBRID SESSION

Session 5: Laying down the law: Legal frameworks for the social economy

This session and report launch were organised as part of the OECD Social Economy Summit: Inspiration, innovation and inclusion: Shaping our future with the social and solidarity economy

Countries may use different terms to refer to the social economy, building on context and history. Putting in place legal frameworks can support the visibility, recognition, and development of the social economy. There is significant diversity in how countries have developed legal frameworks, and it may not always be clear to policy makers when and how to best regulate. This session highlighted how legal frameworks can be drivers for the development of the social economy and discussed success factors and pitfalls to avoid when designing them. The discussion was supported by findings from the OECD international guide on legal frameworks for the social economy, which was launched during the session.