A New Business Paradigm: The Social Enterprise

Abstract

The social enterprise can be constituted as one of the best instruments of change to transform the economy and as a consequence the society in which it operates. The economy problems of recent times and the characteristic that the enterprise has of reinventing itself, has generated an evolution of the business model creating in this way the social enterprise. These types of enterprises focus on a series of values such as greater involvement in society to produce change, to promote the environment, sustainable development and to reduce poverty. In the present paper, we intend to realize an analysis of the concept of social enterprise, the different forms that can adopt and the reference legal framework in Spain. In addition, it has been done both a theoretical and practical comparison between a traditional and a social enterprise. This study has concluded that these enterprises can not be compared to each other, because each of them focuses its objectives in obtaining different benefits.