Diploma thesis focuses on the social economy and social entrepreneurship. Its aim is to identify possible directions of further development of the social economy in the Czech Republic. The starting point for this work is the assumption that successful development of social entrepreneurship is dependent on access to financial resources, a good legislative definition and availability of the necessary information. The operational objective is to analyze the range of financial instruments available to social enterprises. The work is divided into several parts. The first chapter summarizes the historical development of the social economy in Western European countries and subsequently in the Czech Republic. The next chapter presents the approaches to the concept of social economy from the perspective of several European institutions. The chapter is also a case of good practice from Italy. The following chapter, in which are presented the main theoretical approaches to the social economy in the Czech Republic. In the analytical part of the work are first defined problem areas of social entrepreneurship, it is also stated range of financial instruments available to social enterprises and subsequently defined possible directions of further development of the social economy.

The goal of this thesis is to analyze the emerging trends in the cross-border agrochemical distributors' network in Central and Eastern Europe. It aims to answer three research hypotheses and uses desk research methodology to reach this goal. The thesis studies five distributors of agrochemicals considered as pioneers in the industry and assumes their behavior as a proxy for the whole industry behavior. It verifies the first hypothesis that there is an ongoing cross-border consolidation of the distribution network. On the other hand, due to the industry stage and the agrochemicals' market growth it rejects the second hypothesis that there is a pressure on industry profitability. At last, it confirms the third hypothesis that suppliers should consider a change to cope with cross-border customers. In addition, it suggests two areas how to create additional value for the distributors and their suppliers.

A pesquisa estabeleceu como objetivo geral, analisar a gestão dos Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos em dois casos distintos; um na cidade de Varginha, MG e outro no Distrito de Jaçanã na cidade de São Paulo. Tem como finalidade, indicar caminhos sustentáveis para um melhor desempenho no processo de triagem, com ganho de tempo e renda para os cooperados. O método empregado foi baseado em revisão bibliográfica e trabalho de campo com entrevistas participativas, para melhor analisar e avaliar a sustentabilidade dos sistemas utilizados nos dois casos. Com o mesmo intuito foram investigadas a geração, coleta, triagem, o processamento e transporte, bem como o destino final dos resíduos gerados em ambos os casos, visando auxiliar a análise comparativa da rentabilidade e produtividade nos processos de triagem de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos, das cooperativas em estudo. Como resultados, a COOPER-ET do caso Varginha MG, apresentou um índice de sustentabilidade sócio-econômico relativamente mais elevado do que a COOPER-SF do caso Jaçanã SP, onde esta última apresentou relativamente um maior índice no aspecto ambiental. A análise integrada da produtividade dos sistemas demonstrou uma taxa de tratamento com triagem mensal de Resíduos Sólidos Domiciliares de 10 % para o caso Jaçanã e 35% para o caso Varginha, em relação a todos os Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos produzidos pelas duas comunidades. De acordo com o quadro sócio-econômico apresentado pelas cooperativas, a COOPER-ET foi classificada como Cooperativa de Lugar Social, com características de Economia Solidária, segundo os conceitos de Singer (2000). A COOPER-SF foi classificada de acordo com o conceito das cooperativas organizativas, segundo Pinho (1982), uma vez que este conceito justifica como ela foi criada. O processo de triagem no transbordo (caso Varginha) mostrou-se relativamente mais rentável e mais econômico do que a coleta seletiva porta a porta promovida pelas Prefeituras de São Paulo, que mostrou ser relativamente menos rentável para os cooperados e mais dispendiosa para as Prefeituras, além de competir com os coletores autônomos de Resíduos Sólidos Recicláveis. Foram indicadas maneiras sustentáveis no Gerenciamento Integrado de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos, com propostas de inclusão social não só dos cooperados, mas também dos coletores autônomos de Resíduos Sólidos Recicláveis. / The research has established as a general objective, analyze the management of the Urban Solid Waste in two distinct cases; one in the city of Varginha, Minas Gerais and another one in the District of Jaçanã in the city of São Paulo. It has as purpose to indicate sustainable ways to better performance in the process of screening, with profit of time and income for the cooperated. The employed method was based on bibliographical revision and work of field with participatory interviews, better to analyze and to evaluate the sustainability of the systems used in the two cases. With same to that effect were investigated the generation, it collects, screening, processing and transportation, as well as the final destination of the waste generated in both the cases, aiming at to assist comparative analysis of profitability and productivity in the process of screening of Urban Solid Waste, of the cooperatives in study. As results, the COOPER-ET of the Varginha case - MG, presented an index of socio-economic sustainability relatively higher than the COOPER-SF of the Jaçanã case - SP, where the latter presented relatively index higher in the environmental aspect. The integrated analysis of the productivity of the systems, demonstrated a tax of treatment with monthly screening of Solid Waste Domiciliary of the 10% for the Jaçanã case and 35% for the Varginha case, for all Urban Solid Residue produced by the two communities. In accordance with the partner-economic context presented by the cooperatives, the COOPER-ET was classified as Cooperative of Social Position, with characteristics of Solidarity Economy, according to concepts of Singer (2000). The COOPER-SF, was classified in accordance with the concept of the organizational cooperatives, according to Pinho (1982), a time that this concept justifies as it was created. The process of screening in the transshipment (case Varginha) revealed relatively more profitable and more economic of what the selective collection door the door promoted by the City halls of São Paulo, that it showed to be relatively less profitable for the cooperated ones and expensive to the City halls, beyond competing with the autonomous collectors of Solid Waste Recyclable. Were indicated sustainable ways in the Integrated Management of Urban Solid Waste, with proposals for inclusion social not only of the cooperated, but also of the collectors autonomous of Recyclable Solid Waste.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-02T13:54:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MatheusEloyFranco-dissertacaopdf.pdf: 376071 bytes, checksum: bc5aa8bc1dc732b074095a05765ed90c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-09 / The introduction of new technologies in the rural sector occurs more slowly compared to other sectors of the economy. This work is the result of a study that analyzed the scenario of the introduction of the information technology in cooperatives and coffee-producing properties in the southern region of Minas Gerais to identify factors that delay its adoption. The objects of study were agricultural cooperatives and producers of different sizes. Data were collected from observations, document analysis and interviews with the person in charge of information technology, managers and owners of these properties. After analyzing the cases studied, it was concluded that the agricultural cooperatives have a high technological level and the farms have different levels of technology according to their size. / A introdução de novas tecnologias no setor rural ocorre mais lentamente se comparada a outros setores da economia. Este trabalho é resultado de um estudo que buscou analisar o cenário da introdução da tecnologia da informação em cooperativas e propriedades produtoras de café na região do Sul de Minas Gerais, visando a identificar fatores que retardem sua adoção. Os objetos de estudo foram cooperativas agrárias e produtores de diferentes portes. Como instrumento de coleta de dados utilizaram-se observações, análise documental e entrevistas com o responsável pela área de informática, gerentes e proprietários. Após a análise dos casos estudados, concluiu-se que as cooperativas agrárias possuem nível tecnológico elevado e as propriedades rurais possuem diferentes níveis tecnológicos de acordo com seu porte.

Com o avanço de novas tecnologias houve o desencadeamento da precarização dos postos de trabalho gerando assim um desequilíbrio socioeconômico, todavia, a consciência humana não foi capaz de concluir que para que exista crescimento econômico é necessário que desenvolvimento econômico esteja acompanhado de resultados eficazes que reflitam na qualidade de vida da população. Seguindo esta trilha esta dissertação teve como objetivo avaliar e compreender a importância da COOPERAN por meio de suas práticas fomentando a inclusão social por meio da geração de emprego e renda. Assim foi realizado um Estudo de Caso, aplicando um questionário semiestruturado, com perguntas abertas e fechadas. A Cooperativa estudada foi a COOPERAN, com sede no Município de Palmas, capital do Estado do Tocantins, que possui como objetivo recolher, embalar e comercializar materiais que seriam tratados como lixo. Por meio dos resultados, constatou dentre outras que o apesar do cooperativismo ser o grande propulsor do desenvolvimento humano por meio de da inclusão social para geração de emprego e renda, os resultados obtidos não sinalizaram neste sentido bem como os princípios cooperativistas que norteiam este tipo de organização, não são pelos cooperados observados, pela simples falta de apoio social, porem uma análise mais acurada dos resultados observa-se que este tipo de organização pode possibilitar o Desenvolvimento Humano e a inclusão social por meio de da geração de emprego e renda, desde que respeitados os princípios cooperativistas. / With the advancement of new technologies was the triggering casualization of jobs thus creating a socioeconomic imbalance , however , human consciousness was not able to conclude that there is economic growth is necessary for economic development is accompanied by effective results that reflect the quality of life . Following this trail this thesis was to evaluate and understand the importance of COOPERAN through their practices to promote social inclusion through employment generation and income. Thus we performed a case study by applying a semistructured questionnaire with open and closed questions. The study was COOPERAN Cooperative, headquartered in the city of Palmas, Tocantins State, which has as objective to collect, package and market materials to be treated like trash . Through the results , found among others that despite the cooperative be the major driver of human development through social inclusion for generating employment and income , the results obtained do not signaled in this direction as well as the cooperative principles that guide this type of organization , are not observed by the cooperative , the simple lack of social support , however a more accurate analysis of the results it is observed that this type of organization can enable human development and social inclusion through employment generation and income , since compliance with the cooperative principles .

O programa Coleta Seletiva Solidária, iniciado em 2003 pela Prefeitura de São Paulo e que prevê a realização da coleta seletiva domiciliar na cidade por meio de cooperativas de ex-catadores de materiais recicláveis subsidiadas pelo poder público, é sustentável em termos econômicos, sociais e ambientais? Embora a retórica em que se baseia esteja em sintonia com a matriz discursiva da sustentabilidade urbana - de uma forma geral e aplicada ao lixo - e com os preceitos da economia solidária, a iniciativa dispõe dos elementos e consegue alcançar os resultados que, na prática, podem garantir a sua manutenção como política pública? Para tentar responder essas duas perguntas, este trabalho se valeu da aplicação de indicadores de sustentabilidade para programas municipais de coleta seletiva em parceria com ex-catadores e para as organizações neles envolvidas, elaborados pelo grupo de trabalho Coselix, financiado pela Funasa (Fundação Nacional da Saúde). A partir dos resultados obtidos, e tendo como pano de fundo um referencial teórico que mostra como as políticas públicas ambientais devem buscar a mudança institucional para serem eficientes em seus propósitos de aproximar o ideal do desenvolvimento sustentável da realidade, chega-se à conclusão de que a Coleta Seletiva Solidária tem grau de sustentabilidade apenas médio, comprometido sobretudo por deficiências institucionais, que se refletem numa baixa eficiência socioambiental (baixa cobertura, média recuperação de materiais recicláveis e alto índice de rejeito) e no fato de as cooperativas que integram o programa também se mostrarem, via de regra, longe da sustentabilidade. Apesar disso, a iniciativa tem potencial, evidenciado principalmente por sua base legal clara, infra-estrutura bem montada e pelos ganhos sociais qualitativos obtidos em grande parte das cooperativas. / Is Coleta Seletiva Solidária, a municipal initiative which began in 2003 in the city of São Paulo and establishes that selective collection of household waste will be conducted by former scavengers organized in cooperatives, sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms? Although based in a rhetoric that seems in tunning with the discursive matrix of urban sustainability - in general and applied to waste issues -and with the concepts of solidary economy, does the project have the elements and can it achieve the results that, in practice, may grant its survival as a public policy? In an attempt to answer these questions, this dissertation turned to the application of sustainability indicators specially developed to analyze and rank municipal selective collection programs with former scavengers and the organizations involved in such initiatives, created by the work group Coselix, financed by Funasa (Fundação Nacional da Saúde). Based on the results obtained and having as framework theoretical references which point how environmental public policies must aim at institutional change in order to reach their goals and bring the sustainable development ideal closer to reality, it concludes that Coleta Seletiva Solidária has only a medium sustainability degree, compromised mainly by institutional flaws, that are reflected in a lack of socioenvironmental efficiency (small coverage, medium recovery of recyclable goods and high reject rate) and in the fact that the cooperatives involved in the program are, in general, also far from sustainability. However, the initiative shows potential especially when it comes to its legal base, to a well constructed infrastructure and to the qualitative social gains obtained in most of the cooperatives.

Thesis (LLM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / The world, more especially countries in Africa are battling with the effects of poverty, unemployment and destitution. South Africa is one African country that succumbed to racial inequality brought about by apartheid wherein black people were denied participation into any form of income generating endeavours that would ensure their sustenance. The South African Government after attaining independence in 1994 put in place policies meant to emancipate and empower the Historically Disadvantaged People (HDP). In line with that approach, the government deemed it fit to empower the South African populace through Co-operatives. This study analyses and critiques the Co-operative Banks Act, 40 of 2007 as the focal instrument regulating financial co-operatives in South Africa and its contribution towards economic growth and poverty reduction. The study further exposes some of the imminent challenges experienced in the field of financial co-operatives as far as registration of such cooperatives is concerned. The Act since its inception has only managed to have only two co-operative banks established and the rest of the Co-operative Financial Institutions (CFI’s) are not registered and are operating under an exemption notice. Therefore, this study brings to light some of the challenges leading to the failure to become co-operative banks, and also delves into the act itself to assess whether its provisions are the reason for this ultimate failure to register financial co-operatives. The challenges experienced by financial co-operatives in South Africa would be addressed by drawing lessons from countries such as Kenya and Canada which have managed to establish a strong and vibrant co-operative industry so as to suggest ways in which they may also improve and graduate to become successful Co-operative Banks.

El presente estudio evalúa la relación existente entre la inclusión financiera y el crecimiento económico explicada a través de las cooperativas de crédito como agentes de inclusión. Esta relación se establece mediante variables financieras como factores que pueden producir una influencia permanente sobre la tasa de crecimiento económico y se introducen variables reales de la economía que están involucradas a lo largo del proceso de crecimiento. Se considera importante que el sistema financiero tenga una estructura sólida e inclusiva para ser sostenible en el tiempo y para ello los productos y servicios financieros tienen la capacidad para promover la acumulación de capital y la productividad de inversión. El enfoque de este análisis toma en cuenta variables financieras como créditos, depósitos (ambos medidos como porcentaje del PBI) y número de sucursales durante el periodo 2004 a 2018. Para ello, se utiliza la técnica de Método Generalizado de Momentos (GMM), cuyos resultados sugieren que las variables escogidas para medir la inclusión financiera influyen en el crecimiento económico. / This study evaluates the relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth explained through credit unions as agents of inclusion. This relationship is established through financial variables as factors that can produce a permanent influence on the economic growth rate and real variables of the economy that are involved throughout the growth process are introduced. It is considered important for the financial system to have a solid and inclusive structure to be sustainable over time, and for this, financial products and services have the capacity to promote capital accumulation and investment productivity. The focus of this analysis takes into account financial variables such as loans, deposits (both measured as a percentage of GDP) and number of branches during the period 2004 to 2018. For this, the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique is used, which results suggested that the variables chosen to measure financial inclusion have an influence economic growth. / Tesis

MSCAGR / Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness / Poverty and unemployment are the main problems facing many people in the Vhembe District Municipality. Due to these main problems, most people turn into farming as a tool to reduce poverty, ensure food security and create employment in their rural communities. Because of high production and marketing costs, farmers often find it difficult to pool their resources together in order to raise farm income and substantially improve their living conditions. In order to deal with this problem, farmers form cooperatives to pool their resources for increased agricultural productivity, employment creation and poverty reduction. The study assessed the role of agricultural cooperatives in poverty reduction within the rural communities of the Vhembe District Municipality. The research study was a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research method. There are 70 agricultural cooperatives producing field crops and vegetables in Vhembe District. A clustered random sample of the 4 Local Municipalities within Vhembe District Municipality was employed. It involved the selection of 9 cooperatives from Thulamela, 3 cooperatives each from Makhado and Mutale respectively and 1 cooperative from Musina. Relevant data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Descriptive and Binary logistic regression modelling was used to analyse data. The study revealed that socio-economic characteristics of respondents have an impact on the role agricultural cooperatives play in reducing poverty. The study further showed that agricultural cooperatives play a significant role in reducing poverty and ensuring food security to members’ households. The respondents showed a positive response in the effectiveness of cooperatives in poverty reduction. The study also showed that cooperatives have a significant role in creating employment opportunities. Cooperatives were also faced with various challenges which hinder their success in poverty reduction. Some of the challenges include; market access, lack of funding, conflicts within cooperatives and high electricity costs. The study concludes by recommending different strategies which will enhance the success of cooperatives in poverty reduction. Further studies concentrating on poverty reduction, food security and employment creation need to be carried-out which will help cooperatives respondents to eradicate poverty in their households and communities.

MSCAGR (Agricutural Economics) / Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness / See the attached abstract below