Search results

The purpose of this article is to provide a method of gaining transdisciplinary insight by focusing on keywords in the language we use. The language of economics dominates discourse about the economy. Analyzing this discourse from a great variety of perspectives has blossomed but promises much more. The study of the keyword “entrepreneur” illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of this diversity of perspectives, and also points to some possible opportunities for enhancing the quality of their interaction.

A broad discourse analytic approach is drawn upon to understand the role the language of mainstream economics plays in our discussions of the economy, to trace the keyword “entrepreneur” as it has been and is used in economics and more general conversations about the economy and to use a keyword approach to create a transdisciplinary understanding of the way the economy is discussed.

Economics in the sense of the mainstream approach that adopts the rational narrowly self-interested, calculating and decontextualized individual as its default assumption is a very particular language that has detrimentally dominated discussions of the economy. “Entrepreneur” is a keyword, the use of which in economics has both strengthened and put constraints on the way it can be deployed in talking about the economy. Focusing on keywords in the language, we use can provide a method of gaining transdisciplinary insight.

A short article with such a broad sweep such as this no doubts illustrates the limits imposed by attempts at transdisciplinary communication, but a potential gain from any such interaction is that we might grow to have more informed and genuinely dialogic interactions about the economy. As another way to attempt communication across diverse positions, looking at keywords in the discourse about the economy seems profitable.

Discourses of economics and the entrepreneur play a huge role in how people construct their roles and representations in the economy. Producing critical and creative understandings of these discourses that allow social actors to benefit from the diversity of completed and potential research work seems imperative in a world facing our current economic and social problems.

Discourse analysis of the economy, the entrepreneur and economics has produced many insights but these insights have remained stranded in intellectual niches. As studies of language and the economy continue to blossom this article stresses the need, and points to some opportunities, for more fruitful interaction, by adopting a keyword approach.

This paper aims to establish a theoretical framework that can comprehensively explain the executive compensation in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) within the context of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The author develops a theoretical framework for executive compensation in SOEs from the perspective of Marxist economics and points out that the executives in SOEs are engaged in management labor, and their compensation should adhere to the principle of distribution according to labor contribution.

Based on this theory, the author posits that the continuous upward trend of executive compensation in SOEs, is consistent with the trend of SOEs' ongoing expansion, which reflects a continuous improvement of SOE executives' management labor in both quality and quantity.

It is necessary to start with Marxist economic theory and scientifically study the issue of SOE executive compensation, adhere to the principle of distribution according to work in the context of a socialist market economy and implement the specific guideline of the Party Central Committee; only in this way can the long-term healthy development of SOEs be promoted continuously.

The purpose of this paper is to present the policies in the field of social and solidarity economics (SSE) in India and in Brazil, to draw a comparison between them and to present their strengths and weaknesses. This proposal is based on the innovative initiative of an ongoing collaboration between India and Brazil in the field of SSE within the South-South Triangular Cooperation framework of the International Labor Organization.

The methodological procedures used for the elaboration of this article were: literature review in both countries and field trips to India and Brazil.

The study helped us understand the realities of SSE in both countries. The importance of SSE can be observed as a means to deal with poverty and the need to generate income for portions of the population, in spite of the historic, cultural, political, economic and social differences. The Indian experience contributes to the theme of the insertion of women in the mechanisms of generation of work positions and income opportunities, whereas the Brazilian experience contributes to the topic of social cooperativism.

Despite the contributions of SSE to mitigate poverty and income deficiency, considering a significant share of the poor, particularly in India, the mechanisms for inclusion of this population are limited. A similar situation, however, to a lesser degree can also be observed in Brazil.

This study is an input for the elaboration of public policies of SSE, including the advantages of its transversality.

Besides, it will also help in the analysis and elaboration of social policies from an integrated and emancipatory view.

Within the international context, the authors understand that this was the first comparative study on the topic of SSE, undertaken between Brazil and India.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution of the social enterprise concept at an international level. It provides a comprehensive overview of the existing literature in this subject area and focuses on the legal implementation of social enterprises.

The paper is an analytic review, building on previous work. Conclusions are on how the social enterprise concept has been legally implemented in a number of representative European countries.

The lack of a common understanding of social enterprise should not be regarded as a limitation as such debate encourages a rethinking of the theoretical definition of enterprise and its legal structure. The legal recognition of social enterprise contributes to conceptual clarification in the countries concerned.

This is a conceptual discussion paper, which stimulates further research on the most interesting mechanisms and consistent models of social enterprise that are developing at an international level.

The paper synthesises existing conceptual studies on social enterprise. It contributes to enrich the current debate on social enterprise and aids in focusing future research.

Remarks that Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, admonishing us not to treat others as mere means, can be seen to pave the way for an ethics of worker ownership, where the staff decides and assumes the role of residual claimant. Could large corporations convert worker ownership and still prosper and grow? It is in trying to answer this type of question that scholars all over the world have been interested in the development of what is generally regarded as the world’s most famous and most successful worker co‐operative: the Mondragon Co‐operative Complex. After reviewing some of the major reorganizations at Mondragon, summarizes the co‐operative’s economic performance up to 1995. Assesses the prospects of maintaining economic democracy while competing with large transnational corporations which have access to low‐cost labour in the Third World.

Shareholder‐value proponents claim a new, economically sound way to maximize profits, create wealth, measure performance, and reward executives. That invalid claim is dangerous. Stocks of shareholder‐value firms appreciated barely 15 percent as much as another, time‐tested strategic‐management system. Shareholder‐value strategies are easily countered. Shareholder value mis‐allocates resources, revives old fallacies, and debases the reputation of economics as a useful business discipline.

The purpose of this paper is to map the current situation of entrepreneurship education in higher education institutions (HEIs) of 22 European transition economy countries.

The approach taken was an internet survey and analysis covering 774 HEIs of the region.

In 332 institutions, entrepreneurship‐oriented courses, modules or curricula are offered. Croatia and Slovenia are the leading countries in terms of the coverage of teaching entrepreneurship in universities and colleges, followed by the Baltic countries and the Czech and Slovak Republics. The highest entrepreneurship orientation is found in new and private universities and colleges. In a majority of schools, the theory of entrepreneurship is taught but practice‐oriented training in entrepreneurship is rather limited. The current number of centres of entrepreneurship in the region is small, and the research‐oriented model of entrepreneurship education is used in three to five institutions only.

The paper provides a useful source of information for entrepreneurship education researchers, developers and education policy makers.

The paper maps the HEIs entrepreneurship teaching in post‐communist European countries.

This paper summarises key issues arising from a comprehensive research monograph and accompanying discussion paper on social enterprise that reviewed over 150 sources. It aims to provide insight into the future development of the social enterprise research agenda, and how to attract scholars new to the field to contribute to it.

The paper seeks to identify and address some of the difficulties faced by social enterprise researchers, in terms of defining their field, overcoming institutional pressures that may deter scholars from tackling the social enterprise research agenda and in dealing with some of its complexities.

In developing the monograph, two key themes were diversity and distinctiveness. Social enterprise is a form of business that is distinctly different to conventional commercial enterprise and that has an extraordinary diversity in organisational form, legal structure, purpose, culture, scale and scope. There are also a number of “paradoxical” elements to the research agenda for social enterprises arising from their “hybrid” nature.

These findings create many challenges for researchers, practitioners and policy‐makers, not least in terms of defining social enterprises consistently, and also in terms of understanding what makes them different to commercial enterprises and what the implications of those differences are.

The insights provided by this discussion should help to resolve and explain some of the debates and conceptual and practical difficulties that have hampered the development of the social enterprise research agenda.

In spite of the availability of metrics for measuring social impact (SI), it can be difficult for organisations to select tools that fit their precise needs. To address this challenge, this study conducts a systematic literature review by using legitimacy theory as a point of departure. It examines tools that capture three dimensions of sustainability – social, economic and environmental (SEE) – and firm size.

Top four journal databases in the social sciences from the FT50 review were searched to identify articles published in peer-reviewed journals in the 2009-2019 period, using keywords to conceptualise the construct. For comprehensive assessment, this study adopted a method that requires the logic synthesis of concepts and evidence emerging from the literature to address the research aim.

The results show that most of the articles developed tools or frameworks to measure SI based on the triple bottom line of sustainability – SEE – and firm size. However, there is insufficient evidence of their integration into practice.

This work contributes to the legitimisation of social enterprises (SEs) by using validated tools and frameworks to develop practical suggestions for SI measurement (SIM).

As legitimacy is an important rationale for SIM, this study adds value through the development of a suitability framework. The framework enables SEs to identify the most appropriate tool for their purpose and size to establish legitimacy through impact measurement and reporting.

Coopetition is a well-studied phenomenon in traditional enterprises. However, it lacks deepening in the social sphere, specifically on hybrid organizations (social and commercial goals). This paper analyzes the configuration of coopetition strategies in social enterprises and how these strategies can improve social value devolution.

The authors conducted a multicase study with Brazilian social enterprises and a social incubator. Semistructured interviews with founders of the social enterprises and the president of the incubator were the primary sources of evidence, supported by observations and secondary data.

The authors identified four main findings: (1) the social incubator induces coopetition among social enterprises; (2) coopetition is necessary to improve market performance; (3) coopetition is a natural strategy resulting from the activity of the social enterprise; (4) the behavior and context of social enterprises generate a new framework for coopetition formation. This framework comprises three stages of value: a social cooperation level to co-creation of value; second, a social competition level to the appropriation of value; and the third coopetition-balanced level to social value devolution.

The authors advance knowledge on coopetition in an exciting, underexplored context, social entrepreneurship. The authors highlight that the coopetition nature and outcome in social enterprises have specificities compared to traditional businesses. The authors also improve the understanding of social value devolution based on simultaneous cooperation and competition among small social enterprises, allowing theoretical and practical implications. Thus, they advance the recurring discussion in coopetition literature beyond the generation and appropriation of value.