Background: Studies on immigrant entrepreneurship have generally focused on problems, features, and success aspects, whereas minimal attention has been paid to building a conceptual framework for understanding African immigrant entrepreneurship in South Africa. Research objectives: This study aimed to construct an empirically informed conceptual framework of African immigrant entrepreneurship in South Africa. Research design and methods: A qualitative research method was used, involving semi-structured interviews with 22 African immigrant entrepreneurs and their employees. Data were gathered using purposive and convenience sampling and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The results show that home-country entrepreneurial experiences, entrepreneurial resources, opportunity recognition, social ethnic support, and the host-country entrepreneurial ecosystem all influence African immigrant entrepreneurship, enabling new venture creation and economic contributions. Conclusions: This research develops a conceptual framework that enhances our understanding of African immigrant entrepreneurship and gives both theoretical and practical perspectives to academics, policymakers, and entrepreneurship development practitioners in South Africa.
Background: Scholars increasingly recognise entrepreneurship education not only for developing entrepreneurial competencies but also for fostering ethical awareness and social responsibility among students. However, empirical evidence on its impact on students’ attitudes toward social responsibility remains limited. Research objectives: The study examined the impact of entrepreneurship education on students’ attitudes toward social responsibility at the Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran. Research design and methods: I employed a quasi-experimental design, comparing two groups of students: first-year students as the control group and final-year students as the experimental group. I collected data with a researcher-designed questionnaire adapted from validated instruments, including the Michigan Student Social Responsibility Survey and Martínez et al. (2015). The questionnaire measured five dimensions of social responsibility: striving for excellence, integrity and honesty, community participation, respect for others’ perspectives, and ethical reasoning. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent samples t-tests, served the data analysis. Results: The findings revealed that students who completed entrepreneurship education scored significantly higher on all dimensions of social responsibility than those not yet trained. Conclusions: The results suggest that entrepreneurship education not only develops entrepreneurial competencies but also meaningfully fosters ethical awareness and social responsibility among students.
Background: In recent years, the social and solidarity economy (SSE) has emerged as a central framework on inclusive and sustainable development. The recent studies illustrate their institutionalisation in different regions, contributions to sustainability, challenges for transformative potentials, and comparison of public policies. Research objectives: The first objective was to situate Türkiye and its public policy on cooperatives within the global outlook. Another aim was to track the continuity and change in this public policy. Research design and methods: This study adopted a qualitative approach and applied a thematic analysis. Two documents used in this research, namely the Turkish Cooperatives Strategy and Action Plan (2012–2016) and Türkiye Cooperative Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2029), stand as the most significant policy papers about cooperatives. Results: The thematic analysis compares the contents, strategic objectives, actions, governance frameworks, similar themes, and paradigm shifts, as well as strengths and weaknesses. Conclusions: The study shows that Türkiye tends to favour top-down, market-oriented social enterprises over grassroots and transformative organisations.
Background: The social economy has gained increasing recognition in Central Europe for its potential to enhance social inclusion and economic resilience. Research objectives: This study aimed to map and compare the social economy entities in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries, with a dual focus on national specificities and the broader EU framework. Research design and methods: Employing secondary data analysis, the research drew on the Eurostat database and the European Commission’s 2024 benchmarking report. The data was structured and analysed comparatively by legal forms and across the V4 countries. Results: The analysis reveals pronounced national variations in the prevalence and structure of social economy entities. Associations dominate in the Visegrad countries, with social enterprises and foundations playing more significant roles in Poland and Hungary. Conclusions: The findings indicate that while the social economy has common roots across the Visegrad region, national institutional contexts shape its development paths, underscoring the need for policy frameworks that recognise both regional convergence and country-level diversity.
Background: Although digitalisation delivers business-level benefits and higher education institutions (HEIs) are expected to advance the digital social economy (SE), many universities still lack coherent digital transformation strategies. Consequently, SE curricula do not integrate digital tools and competences adequately, thus limiting the graduates’ ability to address complex social challenges. Research objectives: This study examined how digital competences are integrated into SE education not merely instrumentally but as a substantive learning domain. It asked: (a) how SE initiatives teach digital and technological innovation and (b) what system functions enable the development and scaling of such innovations. Research design and methods: Using the technological innovation systems framework, the study involved a configurational analysis of eight cases of SE education in four European countries. Results: Three clusters emerge, namely civic platforms, institutional living labs, and lifelong learning initiatives, which reflect distinct constellations of enabling conditions shaped by institutional density, funding logics, and regional disparities. Conclusions: The findings challenge universal models of digital SE education, underscoring the need for context-sensitive and pluralistic implementation strategies.
Background: Social entrepreneurship education (SEE) is gaining global prominence as a mechanism for developing competencies to address complex social challenges. Despite urgent socioeconomic needs, SEE in India remains fragmented and marginalised in higher education curricula. Research objectives: This article examines competencies required for social entrepreneurship; the role of society in nurturing these competencies; factors influencing SEE; benefits of SEE at economic, social, and environmental levels; and required reforms in pedagogy, curriculum, and policy in the Indian higher education context. Research design and methods: Qualitative content analysis (QCA) of 70 peer-reviewed sources and the application of an inductive approach guided by the study objectives. Results: We identified five interconnected competency clusters: psychological, cognitive, functional, social, and meta. Society operates as an ecosystem enabler across four roles. Influencing factors are organised at external-environmental, organisational, individual, and contextual levels. Nine pedagogical approaches and five curricular components were synthesised, with six policy recommendations anchored in NEP 2020. Conclusions: Effective embedding of SEE in Indian higher education requires simultaneous reform in pedagogy, curriculum, and policy. NEP 2020 provides a relevant enabling framework, but significant implementation gaps remain to be addressed, particularly in faculty capacity and institutional resources.
Background: Rural women’s entrepreneurship holds significant importance, often underestimated despite its pivotal role in sustainable household and local community development. With Poland’s socio-economic transformation, their assigned roles have undergone structural changes. Research objectives: The aim of the article is to examine the activity of women in obtaining EU funds as part of activities aimed at rural areas that contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas. Research design and methods: Association (independence) analysis was conducted using data from the 2024 Polska wieś i rolnictwo report, exclusively focusing on the responses provided by 780 women. Results: The findings underscore rural women’s innovative contributions to social initiatives and the preservation of Polish rural traditions, showcasing their leadership qualities and proficiency in managing household budgets. Conclusions: The authors believe that the topic addressed in this article is trending. In the literature on the subject, few articles address on the role and importance of rural female entrepreneurship in different industries.
Background: The legal framework does not extensively discuss the topic of NEET young people, and works dedicated to this issue in the context of the social economy remain rare. This may come as a surprise, given the assumption that the social economy specifically tackles exclusion in the labor market. Research objectives: Therefore, the text primarily aimed to establish whether the legal regulations on the social economy currently in force in Poland address this heterogeneous NEET phenomenon and, if so, to what extent. Research design and methods: The research primarily encompassed statutory material specific to the social economy in Poland. The authors used the dogmatic method. Results: The research determined that the law provides a basis for social economy entities to impact NEET youth, albeit to varying degrees, due to their diverse nature. Conclusions: The NEET group itself is also diverse, and the volitional sphere influences how one understands the law’s impact on NEETs. Although the research question received a clear answer, the analysis of regulations revealed a critical issue in legal studies: the absence of a legal definition of NEET youth.
Background: Nowadays, agritourism constitutes an alternative activity to traditional agriculture, fostering socioeconomic dynamics and promoting social innovation in rural territories. Research objectives: This study aimed to analyze the contribution of agritourism to social innovation and sustainable development in rural areas of the Beja region (Portugal). Research design and methods: Methodology followed a qualitative case study approach, involving eight microenterprises. The study involved the analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews with the companies’ managers to validate a theoretical model based on two key propositions. These premises assume that agritourism businesses contribute to social innovation and the region’s sustainable development. Results: The results show a consensus on the environmental, economic, and social contributions of agritourism, while perceptions regarding social innovation revealed some variability. Nevertheless, the analysis validated the defined propositions. Conclusions: Findings suggest an overall positive effect of agritourism on the region, supporting its relevance as a driver of sustainable development and social innovation.
Background: Continuing a research series started in 2020, the study analyzed the social and economic factors shaping tourism preferences, the application of motivation, and capital theories, with attention to the impact of COVID-19 and rising safety concerns. Research objectives: The aim was to identify and analyze the structural differences in travel behaviors and active tourism preferences between Hungarian tourists who primarily choose domestic destinations and those who prefer international travel. Research design and methods: The study involved an analysis of data from 533 respondents collected in 2024 via an online questionnaire by means of statistical tests investigating travel motivations, accommodation, activities, and demographics. Results: The findings reveal that domestic travelers typically opt for short, low-cost trips with partial board, prioritizing safety, simplicity, and familiarity. In contrast, international travelers favor longer stays, higher service standards, and full board, indicating higher discretionary income and a desire for status expression. Conclusions: The study underscores that travel preferences are not merely economic choices but are deeply embedded in social structures, cultural capital, and identity formation processes.
Background: Slow tourism appeals to competent, independent travelers seeking meaningful and authentic experiences. This umbrella term encompasses responsible and sustainable tourism practices and holds a significant potential for the development of rural territories. Research objectives: The article offers a deep literature review that addresses slow tourism conceptualization and its importance for rural territories. I also aimed to verify whether accommodation business entrepreneurs in Alentejo (Portugal) engage in slow tourism in their website communication strategies. Research design and methods: A qualitative methodological approach was adopted based on a literature review. The empirical phase involved a systematic examination of the messages contained in communication slogans and commercial offerings on accommodation websites. Results: Although many companies do not explicitly identify as part of the slow tourism movement, their practices align with its principles. The latter promote authentic, relaxed, and immersive experiences linked to nature, local cuisine, culture, and sustainability. Conclusions: The results suggest that adopting the principles of slow tourism in rural territories provides visitors with authentic experiences and encourages the sustainable development of the Alentejo region.
Background: As integral components of the event industry, music festivals significantly impact local communities and encompass social, cultural, economic, political, physical, and environmental dimensions. We may perceive this impact as either positive or negative. As event tourism continues to grow in importance, there is an increasing need for evaluation methodologies that promote sustainable development through more participatory approaches. Research objectives: This article examines how impact assessment methodologies, grounded in action research, can enhance community engagement and support the principles of Community-Based Tourism (CBT). Research design and methods: Drawing on evidence from research conducted on the MEO Sudoeste music festival in Odemira, Alentejo/Portugal, the study explored the potential of this notable event to foster community involvement, despite its limited adoption of the CBT paradigm. Results: The findings emphasize the importance of collaborative evaluation processes in balancing benefits and costs and supporting informed decision-making for large-scale tourism events. Conclusions: Collaborative evaluation contributes to improving the long-term sustainability of large-scale tourism events.
Background: A novelty of the research lies in the research sample of Cooperative Bank customers on which we conducted the study. Research objectives: The article primarily aims to analyze the causes and effects of social exclusion opinions of cooperative bank customers from the highly diverse Mazowieckie province. A specific goal involves indicating the relationship between selected causes and effects of social exclusion and a chosen socio-demographic characteristic, namely, the municipality. Research design and methods: Using an interview questionnaire, we conducted the survey in September 2023 on a population of N=185 cooperative bank customers, with gender and age of the Mazowiecki province inhabitants as criteria for selection. We employed the quantitative survey according to a mixed-mode design procedure. The study followed ethical guidelines, and all participants gave informed consent. Results: Findings show that poverty, unemployment, and disability contribute to social exclusion. In turn, according to respondents, social exclusion results in pathological social phenomena that limit development and opportunities to function in society. Conclusions: The study presented the relationship between two causes of social exclusion – income level and place of residence – and the socio-demographic characteristic (municipality). Moreover, it analyzed the relationship between the limitation of development and the ability to function in society as a consequence of social exclusion and the socio-demographic characteristic (municipality). The analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between variables. We discussed the causes and effects of social exclusion indicated by respondents. We also applied descriptive statistics.
Background: Impact-focused businesses can offer unique competitive advantages. They increase operational efficiency and attract more investors. Research objectives: This study aims to estimate investment attractiveness of startups, using the SWOT methodology. Research design and methods: The study draws on case studies and SWOT analysis. The qualitative approach relies on WIPO reports and impact-focused startup databases. Fifteen case studies cover different industries and a wide range of economies. Results: The findings revealed that the framework of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for impact-focused startups depends on their operational pathways. Conclusions: The customer pathway’s strengths include the ability to address market needs directly and generate significant social impact. The employee pathway is strong thanks to improved workforce quality, diversity, and inclusion. The product/service pathway represents eco-friendly and socially responsible products with measurable impacts. The ecosystem pathway tackles global issues.
Background: Rural communities in Cape Breton, Canada, face persistent challenges such as food insecurity, social isolation, and economic marginalization. Community-led food networks rooted in social economy values have emerged as innovative responses that provide dignified, culturally relevant access to food. This article’s novelty lies in its comparative, community-engaged analysis of an Indigenous and a non-Indigenous rural model, treating food networks as infrastructures of rural social innovation rather than charity. Research objectives: This study explored how community-driven food networks contribute to rural development and social innovation by fostering inclusion, empowerment, and resilience. Research design and methods: Using a qualitative case study approach, the research examined two food networks in rural Cape Breton through document analysis, community feedback, observation, and interviews with key stakeholders. Results: The findings reveal that integrated programming, i.e., combining food access, wellness, and employment initiatives, enhances social cohesion, local capacity, and community dignity. Conclusions: Community food networks exemplify how social economy initiatives can transform rural spaces into hubs of innovation and care.
Background: Income constitutes a very important indicator in the social economy. The level and sources of income determine the level and quality of life of rural inhabitants. Research objectives: The research aimed to examine the impact of Poland’s accession to the European Union on changes in the income levels of households across basic socio-economic groups, as well as rural and urban residents, during the period 2004–2023. Research design and methods: An examination was conducted of the results of the household budgets conducted on an annual basis by the Statistics Poland (GUS) between 2004 and 2023. The determination of changes and income relationships was achieved by employing the index of variation, the coefficient of variation (Vi), and Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: There was a decrease in income disparities between farming families and non-farming families, which indicates a process of income convergence. A negative annual dynamic of changes in income was observed only in the case of farmers’ income. Farmers’ incomes also displayed the highest variability among the studied groups. Conclusions: Poland’s integration with the European Union (2004–2023) was a period in which factors favorable to the growth of agricultural incomes prevailed. Despite this improvement, families associated with agriculture displayed lower income levels, worse living conditions, and a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion compared to other socio-economic groups.
Background: Gender equality and the empowerment of women are imperative for inclusive and sustainable development. Despite the fact that the Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) Index provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating legal progress towards gender equality, there is a paucity of research on how key influencing factors vary across economic contexts. Research objectives: The present study aims to examine the influence of asset accessibility, workplace conditions, mobility rights, pay equality, entrepreneurial opportunities, and safety on WBL index scores in high- and low-income countries. The present analysis aims to address the research gap concerning the differential impact of these variables in diverse economic environments. Research design and methods: Multiple linear regression analysis was employed using data from countries classified by income level. The WBL index functioned as the dependent variable, with the influence of six predictor variables on gender equality outcomes being assessed. Results: The findings suggest that pay equality and mobility rights have a greater impact in low-income countries, while safety, workplace conditions, and entrepreneurial opportunities play a more significant role in high-income countries. These results emphasize the necessity of adapting gender equality policies to particular economic contexts. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the importance of context-specific approaches to the promotion of gender equality. In low-income countries, efforts should be concentrated on the improvement of legal rights related to remuneration and mobility. In high-income countries, efforts should be concentrated on enhancing workplace conditions, improving safety, and fostering women's entrepreneurship. The study also identifies common areas for improvement across both contexts to support global gender equality initiatives.
Background: The study explores the demographic and social challenges in peripheral rural regions shaped by a self-restrictive “one-child strategy” among the Reformed majority and the long-standing exclusion of Roma communities, leading to cumulative marginalization. Research objectives: The main objective of this study is to introduce the concept of intermarginal disintegration to elucidate how overlapping forms of social, ethnic, and demographic marginality exacerbate crises in peripheral regions. Research design and methods: The research is grounded in a qualitative approach combining content analysis of secondary sources, historical documents, and selected demographic indicators. The Socio-Ethnic Exclusion Index (SEK-index) was developed as a composite measure to integrate five dimensions of socio-ethnic exclusion. Results: The findings indicate that classical core-periphery models are insufficient to capture the complex and interrelated marginalization processes affecting the region. Conclusions: The proposed framework provides novel insights into the process of rural social restructuring. It offers analytical support for the development of more effective social and regional policies that are aimed at promoting long-term recovery in peripheral regions.
Background: The aim of the article is to present the areas of activity of Country Housewives’ Associations in Poland and their role in local communities. The author will discuss this matter in the context of the Act of November 9, 2018 on Country Housewives' Associations. Research design and methods: The paper conducts a conceptual and theoretical analysis of the basic assumptions of social economy and entrepreneurship and of Country Housewives’ Associations as social economy entities, and reviewed the literature in this area. The study also involved the conduction of original survey research. Results: The research results indicate that Country Housewives’ Associations are active in various areas, including social, integration, and educational. In the course of their activities, they face many barriers. Members’ awareness of the social economy is at a low level. Conclusions: The activity of Country Housewives’ Associations as social economy entities in Poland plays an important role in local communities. The scope of the article encompasses only a fragment of the reflections, and scholars may supplement it with new data over time.
Background: This article investigates the interplay between institutional frameworks and territorial conditions in shaping the development of rural social enterprise (RSE) ecosystems in Finland. Research objectives: Drawing on comparative case analysis across three regions—Lapland, Satakunta, and Kainuu—the study identifies key configurations of governance structures, socio-economic conditions, and infrastructural dynamics that enable or constrain the emergence and sustainability of RSEs. Research design and methods: Through document analysis, expert interviews, and regional data, the research introduces the concept of "institutional–territorial fit" to explain the varied trajectories of ecosystem formation. Results: The findings show that successful RSE ecosystems are contingent on multi-level institutional coordination, place-based adaptability, and civic engagement. Conclusions: The article concludes with strategic recommendations for fostering resilient, inclusive, and territorially embedded social enterprise ecosystems.
