Challenges for Social Enterprises in Latvia

• Published in: Social Enterprise in Central and Eastern Europe pp. 102 - 122
• Main Authors: Kalkis, Henrijs, Vilka, Lolita, Līcīte-Ķurbe, Lāsma, Trapenciere, Ilze, Urbāne, Marta
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 2021
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Latvian Context; EU Policy; EU Policy Initiative; NGO Sector; Civil Society; Social Business; Social Business Model; Limited Liability Company; Social Entrepreneurship; Positive Social Impact; UN; Public Administration; Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report; SE Sector; Social Impact Investment; Social Entrepreneurs; EU Definition; Public Benefit Organisations; SME; Latvian Association; Inclusive Civil Society; Support Instruments; SOS; Social Enterprises; SE Development
• ISBN: 0367342197; 9780367342197; 9780367747312; 0367747316
• DOI: 10.4324/9780429324529-8

The term “social enterprise” (SE) is not very common in Latvia, be it in academic circles or at the political level. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report, published in 2009, defined social entrepreneurship as “individuals or organisations engaged in entrepreneurial activities with a social goal”. Academic research in economics plays the leading role in the analysis and study of social enterprise in Latvia. In the last years, the interest of junior researchers in social enterprises has grown rapidly. Analysis of the concept of social entrepreneurship on the basis of various information sources demonstrates that the introduction of this concept in Latvia has been gradual. The concept of social partnership was used in municipalities as a step towards more intense public participation and the use of direct-democracy tools in the work of the administration. The common feature of these various terms is their association with a social-benefit activity.