This research’s aim is to create a stronger connection between the degrowth movement’s proposals and the social entrepreneurial environment in Skåne. This topic was explored through two different methods. Firstly, the relevant literature was brought together to the end of creating a framework for understanding what the implications for social enterprises that intend to transition towards a post-growth economy would be. The framework created consists in four different criteria blocks: sustainable practices, focus on growth, organizational structures and collaboration. The framework created allowed the research to develop further and identify the obstacles to their implementations of the degrowth criteria met by the social entrepreneurs in the Skåne Region (Sweden). After having conducted four interviews with secondary social enterprises (accelerators, incubators and other hubs) and six interviews with social entrepreneurs working in the region, the research was able to identify several different obstacles. Divergent views and approaches to sustainability, a current necessary focus on profit maximization, difficulties of managing non-hierarchical organizations and other obstacles regarding collaboration practices were identified throughout the data analysis.Despite the many obstacles identified throughout the research, there was an interest and understanding present of the necessity to shift towards a more sustainable economic system, meaning an opportunity for researchers to further study this subject and possibly find ways toovercome the obstacles identified.

The provision of public services has changed significantly over the years. One of the more recent changes has involved the increased delivery of public services by non-governmental organizations, whether these organizations be private in nature or belong to the so-called third sector. The third sector is known by a number of different terms, including the non-profit sector, the voluntary sector, civil society, and the social economy. Of particular interest in this study are those social economy organizations (SEOs) that receive the whole or a part of their revenue from the government. These organizations must be accountable to the government for the funds that government provides to them. The purpose of this accountability is to ensure SEOs undertake their obligations to use public resources effectively and to deliver quality public services. One potential accountability challenge involves the limitations associated with the performance evaluation of SEOs, since performance is often not easily observable. Performance is comprised of two parts: the work done by the organization (output) and the impact of this work (outcome). The difficulty in the observation of both outputs and outcomes may result in a conflict for the SEOs between focusing on observable parts of their work that can be more readily measured and reported to meet accountability requirements versus work with less tangible outputs and outcomes. In a funding agreement between an SEO and government, the SEO might have to agree with government requirements, for instance, to follow standardized procedures so that the government can monitor the observable aspects of its work. This requirement may conflict with the SEO’s desire to focus on things that are not observable, and consequently not funded by the government, but are important to the SEO’s mission and social goals. The goal of this research study is to examine the challenges that arise in the operation of SEOs, given that they need to be responsive to government’s expectations and at the same time follow their mission requirements. In-depth interviews were used to examine the extent to which outputs and outcomes are unobservable in SEOs as well as the possible conflicts that might arise between competing objectives within SEOs. Interview participants are three SEO executive directors and one manager, each of whom is responsible for the work carried out by his or her respective SEO. A government employee involved in providing funding to one of the SEOs was also interviewed. The results of this study suggest that the SEOs that were examined have varying degrees of unobservable outputs and outcomes. This study also found that organizations with a greater percentage of unobservable outputs and outcomes experienced a greater degree of conflict in their relationships with government. One of the reasons for the conflict is that the SEO personnel felt that the government focused its attention too much on the observable outputs/outcomes and not enough on outputs and outcomes that, although unobservable, were nevertheless important to clients and the public. Moreover, the SEOs examined in this study that serve specific groups of clients, such as seniors or immigrants, experienced less conflict than those whose services (e.g., increasing environmental sustainability) target the general public. The results of this research have implications for the way in which government structures its activities. Over the last 25-30 years, governments have, through New Public Management (NPM), privatized the provision of public services and encouraged greater competition in the delivery of public services. The results of the analysis carried out in this thesis suggest that this restructuring may not be as effective in situations where the services are directed toward the general public and/or where the services provided involve unobservable outputs and outcomes. The added conflict that appears to accompany these situations suggests that there may be goals and objectives that are important to society but are not being met through the contractual relationship established between the government and the SEO. Since NPM is expected to remain in place, government may wish to find ways of better addressing important unobservable outputs and outcomes. One suggestion, drawn from the interviews with SEOs, is that the government officials who are assigned to work with SEOs should have a good knowledge of the SEOs and be familiar with their missions and functions. This knowledge and familiarity might enable the government officials to evaluate the degree to which non-observable outputs and outcomes are being provided, which in turn might reduce conflict and ensure a better provision of services to clients and the public.

The role of social economic enterprises (SEEs) in the health and prosperity of the communities they serve is gaining growing recognition. In Canada, SEEs such as co-operatives, community economic development organizations and other voluntary sector initiatives have been widely applauded for their role in addressing the impacts of globalization and economic restructuring experienced in remote rural and aboriginal communities as well as in marginalized urban populations. <p>This research reports on Canada-wide study consisting of a comprehensive mapping and measuring of the geographic spillovers of co-ops in and beyond their local communities. Communities are approximated by Consolidated Census Subdivisions (CCS) of which they are approximately over 2,600 in Canada (Statistics Canada, 1996). Data on the spatial attributes, type and size (per capita membership) of co-operatives are combined with a very extensive geographically coded data set containing socio-economic and amenity variables. <p>The percent change in population between 1991 and 2001 was regressed on these co-op and socio-economic variables. The regressions were estimated for rural and urban CCS separately. In general, most of the results from the rural and urban samples complied with theoretical predictions, that is, communities with favorable socio-economic factors were found to have higher population growth. For instance, factors such as high local employment rates, and entrepreneurship (measured by the share of population engaging in non farm self employment) were important factors influencing population growth. Proximity to larger urban centers and population size appeared to be beneficial for communities, especially rural, indicating the importance of strong rural-urban linkages. However, the presence of agriculture and resource extraction sectors tended to result in lower population growth. The share of population of aboriginal origin, an important demographic variable, was also a positive contributor to population change. <p>Finally, in the presence of the prevailing socio-economic and spatial attributes of the communities, at the national level, we found no empirical evidence that co-operative membership influenced population growth. There is, however, some variation in the results when we reduced our geography level to regions, and our analyses to different co-op types/industries. There is some evidence that co-op activity in some regions such as rural CCSs in British Columbia and urban CCSs in Quebec have a positive impact on population growth. Similar results were also obtained for housing and consumer co-ops in rural communities, as well as retail, and other service co-ops in urban communities. <p>The results suggest that there may be scope for co-ops to examine ways of enhancing their social capital role in their communities, specifically developing mechanisms that respond to evolving community needs. Future research may also focus on additional ways of measuring the impact of co-ops in their communities. Most importantly, a very important part of the co-operative sector, the financial co-ops, should be part of a broader consideration of the influence of co-operatives on community population change.

The role of social economic enterprises (SEEs) in the health and prosperity of the communities they serve is gaining growing recognition. In Canada, SEEs such as co-operatives, community economic development organizations and other voluntary sector initiatives have been widely applauded for their role in addressing the impacts of globalization and economic restructuring experienced in remote rural and aboriginal communities as well as in marginalized urban populations. <p>This research reports on Canada-wide study consisting of a comprehensive mapping and measuring of the geographic spillovers of co-ops in and beyond their local communities. Communities are approximated by Consolidated Census Subdivisions (CCS) of which they are approximately over 2,600 in Canada (Statistics Canada, 1996). Data on the spatial attributes, type and size (per capita membership) of co-operatives are combined with a very extensive geographically coded data set containing socio-economic and amenity variables. <p>The percent change in population between 1991 and 2001 was regressed on these co-op and socio-economic variables. The regressions were estimated for rural and urban CCS separately. In general, most of the results from the rural and urban samples complied with theoretical predictions, that is, communities with favorable socio-economic factors were found to have higher population growth. For instance, factors such as high local employment rates, and entrepreneurship (measured by the share of population engaging in non farm self employment) were important factors influencing population growth. Proximity to larger urban centers and population size appeared to be beneficial for communities, especially rural, indicating the importance of strong rural-urban linkages. However, the presence of agriculture and resource extraction sectors tended to result in lower population growth. The share of population of aboriginal origin, an important demographic variable, was also a positive contributor to population change. <p>Finally, in the presence of the prevailing socio-economic and spatial attributes of the communities, at the national level, we found no empirical evidence that co-operative membership influenced population growth. There is, however, some variation in the results when we reduced our geography level to regions, and our analyses to different co-op types/industries. There is some evidence that co-op activity in some regions such as rural CCSs in British Columbia and urban CCSs in Quebec have a positive impact on population growth. Similar results were also obtained for housing and consumer co-ops in rural communities, as well as retail, and other service co-ops in urban communities. <p>The results suggest that there may be scope for co-ops to examine ways of enhancing their social capital role in their communities, specifically developing mechanisms that respond to evolving community needs. Future research may also focus on additional ways of measuring the impact of co-ops in their communities. Most importantly, a very important part of the co-operative sector, the financial co-ops, should be part of a broader consideration of the influence of co-operatives on community population change.

This work will offer sociological theory about deviance, positing that deviance is part of larger social processes. Specifically, it will examine the illicit arts and antiquities trade, arguing that networks of legitimate status-role positions facilitate illegitimate behaviors. This theoretical framework is developed out of the notion that deviant actions may be the result of a social economy, and not the result of individual or psychological concerns. The work will use an exploratory methodology and attempt to explain or answer several research questions. This is tested by using qualitative, open-source data describing the context and means of participation in the status-role positions. The intent is to highlight specific cases and explain how the alternative theory of deviance may be more suitable to explain this type of phenomena.

In the first part, this thesis performed a study to compile and compare current procedures or methodologies for the estimation of traffic volumes on the roads where traffic counts are not easily available. In the second part, linear regression was practiced as an AADT estimation process, which was primarily based on known or accepted AADT values on the neighboring state and local roadways, population densities and other social/economic data. To develop AADT prediction models for estimating AADT values, two different types of database were created, including a social economic database and a roadway characteristics database. Ten years social economic data, from 1995 to 2005 were collected for each of the 67 counties in the state of Florida, and a social economic database was created by manually imputing data obtained from different resources into the social economic database. The roadway characteristics database was created by joining different GIS data layers to the Tele Atlas base map provided by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Stepwise regression method was used to select variables that will be included into the final models. All selected independent variables in the models are statistically significant with a 90% level of confidence. In total, six linear regression models were built. The adjusted R2 values of the AADT prediction models vary from 0.166 to 0.418. Model validation results show that the MAPE values of the AADT prediction models vary from 31.99% to 159.49%. The model with the lowest MAPE value is found to be the minor state/county highway model for rural area. The model with the highest MAPE value is found to be the local street model for large metropolitan area. In general, minor state/county highway models provide more reasonable AADT estimates as compared to the local street model in terms of the lower MAPE values.

This thesis provides a case for the alternative approach to economic and human development through the solidarity economy. Neoliberal growth strategies, including the Washington Consensus, are consistently supported by leading international development organizations yet continue to create marginalized communities throughout the world. Solidarity economies, similar to the one in Conjunto Palmerias, Brazil, move beyond this neoliberal approach to find alternative economic measures that expand the capabilities of the entire community. This type of economy embraces a vision of a market that pragmatically responds to the economic and social challenges of globalization. In conclusion, this thesis argues that the global expansion of the solidarity economy movement affirms confidence that an alternative approach to both human and economic development is possible in today’s capitalistic world.

This study examines the development gap that has emerged between the co-operative sectors of the Canadian provinces of Québec and Saskatchewan since 1980. It harnesses historical research, textual analysis, and semi-structured interviews to better understand how some movements are able to regenerate their movements in the face of crisis. The study finds that the regeneration of the Québec movement reflects the concertation (concerted action) of social movement, sector, and state actors. Deeply rooted in a collectivist tradition of cultural nationalism and state corporatism, this democratic partnership supported the renovation and expansion of the co-operative development system in a virtuous spiral of movement agency, innovation, and regeneration. Concertation of social movement and state actors created momentum for escalating orders of joint-action, institution-building, and policy and program development. By contrast, the degeneration of the Saskatchewan movement reflects the decline of the agrarian economy and movement and a failure to effectively coordinate the efforts of emerging social movements and the state for development action. This has yielded a vicious spiral of movement inertia, under-development, and decline. Although green shoots are in evidence, regeneration efforts in Saskatchewan lag Québecs progress in rebuilding the foundations for effective democratic partnership. The study concludes with a detailed comparison of these diverging movements, offering conclusions and recommendations for the repair of the Saskatchewan development system and the regeneration of its co-operative movement.

This study examines the development gap that has emerged between the co-operative sectors of the Canadian provinces of Québec and Saskatchewan since 1980. It harnesses historical research, textual analysis, and semi-structured interviews to better understand how some movements are able to regenerate their movements in the face of crisis. The study finds that the regeneration of the Québec movement reflects the concertation (concerted action) of social movement, sector, and state actors. Deeply rooted in a collectivist tradition of cultural nationalism and state corporatism, this democratic partnership supported the renovation and expansion of the co-operative development system in a virtuous spiral of movement agency, innovation, and regeneration. Concertation of social movement and state actors created momentum for escalating orders of joint-action, institution-building, and policy and program development. By contrast, the degeneration of the Saskatchewan movement reflects the decline of the agrarian economy and movement and a failure to effectively coordinate the efforts of emerging social movements and the state for development action. This has yielded a vicious spiral of movement inertia, under-development, and decline. Although green shoots are in evidence, regeneration efforts in Saskatchewan lag Québecs progress in rebuilding the foundations for effective democratic partnership. The study concludes with a detailed comparison of these diverging movements, offering conclusions and recommendations for the repair of the Saskatchewan development system and the regeneration of its co-operative movement.

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