The social economy refers to a sector of economic activity that prioritizes social and environmental well-being alongside financial sustainability. It includes cooperatives, mutual societies, social enterprises, non-profit organizations, and foundations that operate based on democratic governance, solidarity, and social impact. Unlike traditional for-profit businesses, social economy organizations reinvest their profits into their missions, such as job creation, social inclusion, and community development. They play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, promoting fair employment, and fostering innovation in sectors like healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. By balancing economic performance with social responsibility, the social economy contributes to a more equitable and inclusive society.
Our approach
Our multi-disciplinary group consists of economists, sociologists, political science researchers and geographers. Using various research methods, we explore the situation of social economy and social enterprises, and evaluate the policies affecting them.
Our research program covers social economy, social entrepreises and their role in communities. Our research and programme evaluation is centered on the following issues:
- situation and challenges of social economy,
- situation and challenges of the social entreprises,
- social entreprises and social cooperatives in the agricultural setcor,
- evaluation of support schemes targeting social economy,
- the role and possibilities of social economy in rural and communitiy development.
Leading Researchers
Luca Koltai, Kinga Tóth, Eszter Szőnyi, Katalin Bördő
Related projects
- We are participating in the Horizon Europe project ESIRA, which aims to support social inclusion in rural areas, with a particular focus on the vulnerable and the social economy. (https://www.esira.eu/)
- We have provided expertise to support the Hungarian Reformed Charity Service in establishing its strategy for people living on the margins.
- Preparation of a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of measures to support social entrepreneurship on behalf of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in cooperation with Equinox Consulting Ltd. and HÉTFA.
- In cooperation with Equinox Consulting Ltd. and HÉTFA, an evaluation and impact assessment of the EU-funded domestic SME programmes was carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (ITM).
- The evaluation of schemes supporting social enterprises in Hungary was conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Technology.
- The study “Measuring What Matters to EU Citizens: Social Progress in the European Regions” was carried out by Intrasoft International on behalf of the European Commission DG Regio.
- The project “Promoting Social Considerations into Public Procurement Procedures for Social Economy Enterprises” was conducted in cooperation with ENSIE – European Network of Social Integration Enterprises for the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).
- Research was conducted on the scale and local impact of social enterprises in the agriculture and food sector in Hungary.
- A study analyzing the impact of public work on local society and the economy was completed on behalf of the Ministry of Interior.
Related papers and studies
- Evaluation of the Hungarian cohesion policy response to the economic and social impacts of the COVID pandemic, HÉTFA 2023
- Evaluation of measures supporting social entreprises in Hungary, EQUINOX-HÉTFA 2021
- Koltai Luca – Geambașu Réka: Female entrepreneurs during the first wave of the pandemic, Új Munkaügyi Szemle 2021/1
- Koltai Luca – Rácz Katalin: Social enterprises in the food sector, Munkaügyi Szemle 62. Évf. (2019) 5. Szám, available in Hungarian
- Koltai Luca: Possible role of social economy in rural areas. Szociálpolitikai Szemle, 2019 • V. ÉVFOLYAM 1. SZÁM, available in Hungarian
- Luca Koltai – Katalin Rácz: Scale and local impact of social enterprises in the agriculture and food sector in Hungary, Hétfa Research Institute 2018, available in Hungarian
- Luca Koltai et al: Impact of public work to local society and economy, Hétfa Kutatóintézet, Ministry of Interior 2018