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Even if the social economy is an emergent sector in Romania, advancing social impact measurement and management becomes imperative for public authorities and the whole society to understand how much positive social change can be attributed to the social economy organizations, especially those active in the social services field. The main objective of this paper is to systematically review and analyse the first fragile attempts of social impact approach and measurement in Romania. Applicative research will be carried out in a social economy organization active in the social services field to understand the current challenges of measuring and managing social impact faced by social economy organizations. The article concludes with an in-depth discussion and a set of recommendations for developing a more effective national impact measurement framework better calibrated to the social and solidarity economy realities, particularly considering the social services field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy sector is essential to a country's economy and social life. In recent years, the energy market in Romania has experienced a certain dynamism, influenced by multiple factors such as regional conflicts, national and EU energy legislation, liberalization of the energy market, and increasing demand for energy products. These factors determined a sharp increase in electricity, gas, and oil prices in Romania in recent years. Based on the above, the present study aims to analyze Romanian energy companies' financial performances and determine whether there is any correlation between their governance and their performance. In order to fulfill the research objectives, financial performance data were extracted and analyzed for a number of 43 energy companies in Romania, considering the financial statements prepared up to 31 December 2021. Using the scoring method, governance indices were determined for each company. Finally, using a linear regression model, we analyzed the correlation between governance and performance of the 43 companies. The results of the study indicate that there is a direct correlation of moderate intensity between the two variables, with the performance of energy companies being higher if they have implemented a governance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IT solutions have been transforming the world of work, albeit with varying intensity, for decades. They affect, among other things, the organisation of work, work structures, employment patterns and working time. Solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), business intelligence (BI), robotic process automation (RPA), workflow, process mining, etc. are now a daily reality in the corporate sector, be it physical or mental work. However, the spread of digital solutions across organisations, spaces and sectors is uneven. Can the impact of this uneven spread be observed in employment, especially in atypical forms of employment? In our questionnaire research, we seek to establish how employees with tertiary education in two pairs of sectors (Hungarian and Romanian non-profit sectors and Hungarian non-profit and for-profit sectors) in two countries perceive some demographic characteristics of teleworking. In our research, we analysed the responses of Hungarian and Romanian working-age citizens with tertiary education who had been working in telework for at least one year at the time of completing the questionnaire. In addition to the deterioration of work relationships and the lack of personal contacts already shown by many studies, it is observed that the work-life balance is upset for single people and those without children, while the number of children does not influence opinions on teleworking. The differences observed and presented in the study are typically not gender-specific but largely based on globalised perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defined as the key engine of economic and social development in Europe, a combination of welfare and solidarity, the social economy reduces the risk of dependence on social services, improves living conditions and offers new perspectives to individuals. Through an in-depth analysis of articles related to this field, published in scientific journals in the last 5 years, we want to analyze the opportunities and risks of professional integration of the most socially disadvantaged groups in Romania, such as people with disabilities, people who they left school and the Roma ethnic group early, etc. Following the content analysis of the articles, we were able to identify a number of opportunities, such as: increasing the standard of living and reducing the risk of dependence on social benefits, economic security and job stability or reducing social stigma. At the same time, we highlighted a number of risks, such as the difficulties of obtaining financing and the management of their social enterprises so that they become economically efficient. This paper contributes to the broadening of knowledge about this economic model promoted in the EU and has the role of opening new possible directions of research. Secondly, the paper highlights a number of practical implications for the inclusion of vulnerable people in the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there is a new European Union commitment to the potential of the social economy which is a pioneer in job creation linked to the circular economy that will be further leveraged by the mutual benefits of supporting the green transition and strengthening social inclusion. Considering this general context, we propose in this paper an exploratory research aiming to investigate the potential of the Romanian social economy sector as part of a circular economy approach that could advance the green transition in the following years. Our paper is based on the findings of preliminary systematic content analysis for the identification of the social enterprises in Romania which include circular economy and/or green economy in their business model, and on qualitative research based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with the social economy organizations' managers. We have highlighted five good practice examples (Recicleta, Atelierul de Pânză, Educlick/Reconect, Remesh, and Bio&co Farm), which clearly show that combining the principles of social economy with the ones of circular/green economy is a strategy that might lead to overcoming the current challenges of the society. Our investigations represent the first approach to this topic, aiming to understand the specific challenges of the circular or green economy and social economy models when joining forces together for sustainable development in the context of an emerging social economy, as is the case of Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The budget deficit is an important part of the state budget, being a tool for influencing the development of the economy and the social sphere. With its help, based on the budgetary mechanism, the state redistributes the national income, modifies the structure of social production, and achieves social transformations. The purpose of this article is to study the causes, the consequences, and the ways of financing the budget deficit from a theoretical point of view, as well as to analyze the evolution of the budget deficit in Romania based on statistical data from the period 2017-2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social enterprises have been proved to be important actors in the regional development through market approaches to societal problems. The development of the social entrepreneurship sector in Romania was supported in a great measure by the European Social Fund (ESF), which granted funds within the "Development of social economy" calls for proposals in the period 2007-2014. These actions were taken before legislation regarding social entrepreneurship or social economy would come into force. The research presented in this paper is based on data provided by the Romanian authorities managing grants for the development of social enterprises and the Romanian Ministry of Public Finances. Data were further analysed, classified and transposed in visual maps. The correlations made with the GDP/development regions showed a lack of perspective regarding the distribution of funds depending on the development needs. The paper wishes to emphasize the importance of strategic planning in the European funds distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the study of jointly owned property (devălmășie) has been of great interest for social scientists during the different political regimes of the country. After the fall of the communist regime and after over 50 years of state ownership, the forests and pasture commons (obști and composeorate) returned to be private property of newly established associative forms. This paper aims to identify and define the contemporary Romanian commons by reference to the general characteristics of social economy organizations. In order to achieve this and obtain a clearer view of the place of the commons in Romania's organizational environment, presentation of some elements of the commons' institutionalization process after the fall of the communist regime is included. The data used for answering these two objectives comes from the analysis of a database comprising 328 questionnaires applied to board members of commons in Romania and various legal documents. The main argument of the paper is that the restitution process that led to the re‐establishment of the Romanian commons from public property to common private property—marked by hardships, conflicts, misunderstandings or faults—deepened the scarce knowledge of the political actors, general public and other stakeholders in regard to these organizations and perpetuated their unclear position in the organizational field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social economy has developed out of the need to find new, innovative solutions to social, economic or environmental problems of communities and also to meet the needs of the community members which are insufficiently covered by the public or private sector. Over the years, the social economy has strengthened its position as an alternative form of economic development based on a set of socioeconomic values and principles that differ from both the market economy and from the universal welfare state: volunteering, democracy, non-profit purpose, professional development of the members and autonomy from the state. ES offers a model of business development based on the principles of equity, social responsibility and transparency, which encourages democratic participation in decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique originality of the tourist exchange is that it is not the product but the tourists who consume it that are subject to relocation from their place of permanent residence to the tourist destination. The tourist as consumer moves to the tourist "product" to take advantage of its integrated components - natural (landscapes, climate), material (services and equipment) and human (societies and civilizations, historical and socio-cultural landmarks). With the development of this process, complex relationships emerge between tourists and local community with reflections on economic and social life. And they require management in an organizational and functional way. The awareness in this regard is in fact, very important for the competitiveness of the tourist offer and has a significant effect on regional sustainability. It is in this direction that the present study aims to explore one of the aspects of the impact that is being discovered in connection with the implementation of cross-border projects funded under the EU Cross-Border Cooperation Program - Interreg A with regional orientation to the Romania-Bulgaria border area. The focus is on identifying the manifestations of sustainability as a consequence of indirect investment in tourism and on outlining and taking concrete action as a result of the implemented projects. It is also defined by the presumption, that effects on regional economies and social characteristics should be high while respecting the sustainability of project results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social economy is a relatively new field in Romania. Not only is it little known in public opinion and academic debates, but the number of Romanian social enterprises is very small (only 80 social enterprises). An easy explanation would call into question the relatively new nature of the relevant legislation. In 2015, the Law on Social Economy was adopted (219/2015) and a year later the application norms are published. We start from the premise that not only the novelty of the legislation explains the small number of social enterprises, but also the existence of social and administrative barriers faced by those who want to start social affairs. This article presents the results of a sociological survey based on a questionnaire, administered to a number of 68 social entrepreneurs, in order to identify the opportunities and difficulties encountered by them in the effort to assert the social economy in Romania. The finality of the research approach consists in formulating scientifically justified recommendations for the improvement of their situation and, implicitly, for the development of the social economy in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a sector with high development potential, like social economy in Romania, a precisely designed research method was used, focused rather on the future than the past or present status. The Delphi method can produce relevant information about evolution perspectives of any topic observed, mainly emergent facts or domains with uncertain progress. Initially developed in the Cold War context, to anticipate the impact of the technology on warfare, it starts from the premise that individual predictions were better than group ones. This tool aims to reach the best consensus on opinions from a group of experts within the specific domain studied, using questionnaires applied individually and mixed with relevant feedback from the researchers. The present research used the Delphi technique and dedicated experts? contribution, in order to scrutiny analyze the evolution of the social economy in Romania, the current situation and the encountered problems, the legislative, institutional and fiscal framework and also how the European financial support works for this domain. Not least, a 10- year scenario is tested and advanced, along with some conclusions and questions for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate governance, comprising an environment of confidence, integrity, ethical values and trust, respectively a synergic exertion of all the actors involved, has become a pivotal concept, vital to most companies. Corporate governance in Romania advanced from the centralized model in the early 1990s, to the market economy-based model, concerning not only the respect for the rule of law, but also social economy and inclusive sustainability. This paper proposes a theoretical approach of the corporate governance framework in Romania. The research establishes the importance of good practices for ensuring effective corporate governance, the results pointing out some pitches for improving the Romanian legal framework in the corporate governance field, as well as provide a useful standpoint in comprehending the complex conversion of legislation and research, thus developing the existing literature on accounting and corporate finance. Finally, specific areas for future research in relation to corporate governance in Romania are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we will analyse the opportunity of developing a cooperation between the business community and the public sector, from an economic intelligence perspective, aiming to improve the economic security of Romania. The research question we try to answer is "How can Romanian companies and the national intelligence services cooperate, in order to improve our economic security"? Taking into consideration the various threats to the economic security of our country, in this paper we choose to briefly analyse the existing relationships between competitive and economic intelligence, as well as the concrete ways in which private companies and public intelligence services can cooperate, in order to counter the economic and/or industrial espionage. We believe that our approach can pave the way for further research that will contribute to the formulation of useful recommendations, for both Romanian companies and the public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quality of Life (1018-0389) / Calitatea Vietii is the property of Romanian Academy Publishing House / Editura Academiei Romane and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study considers the legislative changes occurring in Romania in the social responsibility field and the need to develop a social responsibility trademark as a practical instrument quantifying a socially responsible behaviour in relation to all categories of stakeholders involved in the commercial activity performed in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first part of the paper covers social economy issues from the perspective of the relationship with the market and the State. The second part looks at the international framework, by highlighting the main regulatory framework and the national models of social economy at international level. The third part analyses the institutional and legislative national (Romanian) framework based on the analysis of the social economy entities. In conclusions we analysed public policy options for development of social economy in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to present the situation of the social economy in Romania. Through this work, we want to emphasize the role that non-reimbursable European funds have in the development of the social economy in Romania, by making a comparison between the state of social economy before the funding period of 2007 to 2013, the state of social economy after the funding period of 2007 to 2013, the difference been made by the results of the European funding for this section. It is based on the annual reports provided by Ministry of European Funds for Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013, along with recent publications presenting the investigated topic. For the funding period of 2007 to 2013, the data have been processed into the following indicators: social economy structures created, people qualified or requalified in programs for vulnerable groups and the number of jobs created. After the implementation period of 2007 to 2013, the social economy sector has been improved by the foundation of approximately 1,400 social economy structures, by the qualification or requalification of over 130,000 vulnerable people and by creating over 12,000 jobs in the founded structures. As a conclusion, we consider that after the funding period of 2007 to 2013, the significant steps have been made, but the improvements still need to be made in approaching the people belonging to vulnerable groups, helping them fill the gaps that separate them from the majority population in terms of education, work culture and skills required on the labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development by expansion of the territorial area of activity deployment allows the legal entities to be commercial companies, associations or non-profit foundations, syndicates etc. setting up of branches, of some structures with legal personality respectively, different from the legal entities that set them up. Birth and life of these structures, their activities characterized by dynamism and flexibility have been controlled through legal norms took over truncated from foreign legislations and tailored to a new legal reality, created post-communism. The purpose of this study is an analyze of the legal person branch institution within the lacunar and terse legislative template applied to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of cancer is increasingly affecting patients in all European countries. The paper draws a landscape of the Romanian non-profit sector involved in tackling cancer. A descriptive analysis was done on two databases (the national registries of associations and foundations in Romania), for delineating the extent and the type of the NGOs' involvement in the cancer fight. Results show a cancer civil society still in its infancy stage, displaying an imbalanced situation in terms of goals' orientation and territorial distribution. Financially helping patients is a prevailing orientation, whilst there is not enough focus on prevention, education, rehabilitation and palliation. The paper raises concern for policy-makers to include NGOs as partners in national-cancer control programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike the market economy, social economy purpose is not for profit, but to help improve living conditions and offering new opportunities for disadvantaged or vulnerable persons being part of. Social Economy is considering a model of social enterprise, organized in various forms (cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations) whose mission is to provide a series of measures,, accompaniment to the employability of vulnerable people 'to ensure these measures accompaniment, businesses need to collaborate with public social services at the county level and local and county employment agencies labor. Law no. 219/2015 on social economy provides for the establishment of new types of legal entities, specifically social enterprises and social enterprise insertion to ensure participation in economic and social life of the employees from vulnerable groups such as women, Roma people or children institutionalized. Regulating social economy will help develop local communities to create jobs and involve the vulnerable groups in social or economic activities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within non-profit organizations the NGOs in the field of education have a very important role. They provide children, youth, adults and disadvantaged groups with the opportunity to learn new things that can offer a new perspective on life and skills that can help them to find a job or to evolve professionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper invite to a more and deeply thinking of importance and role of the Romanian rural social economy. Lack of relevant statistical data and information concerning this issue invited us to try to identify its influence on general development. On appreciate that it is necessary to take into consideration a smart growth in line with poverty reducing and increasing of the role of social agriculture. This issue started to be used in EU rural areas, especially in agricultural farms, with right results. In Romania, in small-subsistence farms it is possible to get positive results in the case of its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to provide structured information on the level of development and spatial distribution of collective organizations in Romania. Collective organizations are analyzed based on social economy theory. Building on the empirical research, the article identifies and highlights some regional disparities in the development of social economy entities. The comparative analysis regarding the level of development and spatial distribution of collective organisations in Romania draws on the secondary fiscal data analysis. The analysis of the regional profiles of Romanian social economy entities reveals that their socioeconomic power is bigger in the developed regions of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent efforts of the European Union to integrate new member states such as Romania expand to the social economy sector as well. Works by Hoogendoorn et al. (2010) and Kerlin (2010) regard Europe as accommodating two schools of thought related to social entrepreneurship: EMES and the UK - social enterprise. Both views place great emphasis on social enterprise as the main indicator of the social entrepreneurial phenomena for the European continent. Using both qualitative and quantitative research methods, we attempt to answer the following question: Which forms of Romanian social economy organisations correspond theoretically and empirically to the EMES social enterprise criteria? The findings show that there are two types of organisations in Romania (sheltered workshops and enterprises set up by associations and foundation) that fulfil the EMES criteria to the largest extent. They are generally between 5 and 10 years old and are active in agriculture, trade and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the European Union level, there is a great interest in social entrepreneurship and social economy, which are correlated with a more efficient market competition, with the encouraging of solidarity and cohesion, with a high degree of flexibility and innovation that allows a rapid adaptation to the changing social and economic context. The issue of social entrepreneurship became more and more important as the financial and economic crisis evolved and brought to surface the necessity to foster not only economic development but also social inclusion. In Romania, social entrepreneurship is in its emerging phase, the non-profit sector being the major actor in this area. Through an exploratory research based on secondary sources, we aimed to identify the perspectives and the main initiatives and practices in social entrepreneurship area in Romania. The analysis focuses on the non-profit and for-profit sector, the academic area and the institutional and legislative framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the financial framework of Romania's social economy, commercial funding and economic actors.

Social economy is a recent subject of interest for public agenda mainly due to its capacity to support sustainable jobs especially but not exclusively for vulnerable people. The paper explores the profile of Romanian social entrepreneurs with a particular attention paid to social economy area. The research hypothesis is that the empowerment of vulnerable people towards social economy through entrepreneurship is rather an exception than a general sustainable employment solution. The second research hypothesis is that the employment of vulnerable people in social economy area is supported by social insertion enterprises rather than social enterprises. The first part of the paper is focused on international and national regulations as well as institutional framework with an impact on social economy and vulnerable groups. The second part of the paper explores the profile of Romanian entrepreneurs from an international comparative perspective. The third part of the paper assesses outputs of the European Social Fund (ESF) financed projects towards employment of vulnerable people. As methodology, the article is based on desk research on international and national regulations, primary and secondary analysis of EUROSTAT 2000-2012 Eurobarometer databases, and the database of Romanian volumes dedicated to social economy research. Our forecast is that successful implementation of ESF financed projects, especially priority axis 6 "Promoting social inclusion", main domain of intervention 6.1. Development of social economy depends on the ex-ante assessment of employability of vulnerable groups both as entrepreneurs and employees in social enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remarkable figure of the Romanian socio-economic life, Nicolae Ghiulea was one of the most important representatives of the cooperative doctrine in the interwar period. Prestigious professor at the University of Cluj, he distinguished himself by a rich publishing activity in the areas of statistical theory, social economy, cooperatism and sociology. When capitalism and for-profit organizations started showing their limits, there was an urgent need for alternatives. Fervent supporter and active propagandist of the association idea, Ghiulea believed the cooperative enterprise was the opportune form of labour organization capable of solving the social issues of his times. This article sets out to present the cooperative doctrine, with its history, principles, manifestation forms, particularities and drawbacks, as methodized by the Romanian professor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social economy represents the third sector of the economy being the intermediate domain between the private sector and the public sector. There are differences between the three sectors, so from the point of view of the aims pursued, the targeting criteria of success, of how making decisions as well as in terms of sources of funding. Thus, this sector has grown from the need to find the necessary solutions to some problems of social, economic or environmental community as well as meeting the needs of the community was comprised of image are ignored or insufficient services covered by public or private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being implemented at national level, the project named “The social economy model in Romania” has represented a framework of the activities carried out during March 2011 - December 2014 that have contributed to the strengthening of the strategic capacity of the social economy sector and to the growth of the inclusion level for the disadvantaged groups on the labor market and to the development of the Romanian human capital by training specialists for the social economy field. The project has viewed and involved, in the same time, all the relevant players within the social economy matter from Romania: central governmental institutions with responsibilities in this area, social economy experts, social workers, entrepreneurs who desire to develop social economy enterprises, persons working in the local public administration and people from the academic environment, enthusiastic students interested to have a career in this field and last but not least the vulnerable persons - the disadvantaged groups from the labor market. Each activity had an evaluation part that has monitored the feedback of the target groups. The partners involved in the development of the project - the Alternative Sociale Association, the University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” from Iași, the Academy of Economical Studies from Bucharest and the United Nations Program for Development have rendered these data valuable and used them as primary sources for the development of a “Guide of good practices for social economy” and of a “Recommendations report regarding social economy”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article briefly presents the eligible initiatives of the Sectorial Operational Program “Human Resources Development 2007‐2013” Invest in People! (POSDRU) on the Priority Axis nr. 6: Promotion Social Inclusion, Intervention Field 6.1 Developing social economy. POSDRU has supported the set‐up of the Resources Centres for Social Economy that proved in time to be useful by providing information and offering support to the communities. This article describes the centres that made their activity seen, especially in the on‐line environment, providing relevant information to the public about the social economy field. The presented Resources Centres for Social Economy are active since 2010 and a part of them shall exist at least until 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the term of social economy is rather new and almost unknown for the public at large, and the legal framework contains only regulations specific for different types of entities which perform activities or which generate effects that may be considered as partial forms of social economy. This paper reviews the recent literature which approached mostly the problems of conceptualization and definition of the social economy, both at the national and European level. The paper also proposes an evaluation of the social economy sector in Romania in terms of its development capacity on medium-term. The paper reviews scientific contributions from Romania and abroad, reports of public or private institutions, and development policies. All these documents are used to develop a theoretical framework of the social economy and to describe the social economy as a sector of activity within the European Union and Romania, taking into consideration several criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of Public & Cooperative Economics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper presents the context in which social economy appeared as a topic of interest and a priority on the public agenda in different countries around the world and the incipient stages in which it exists in Romania, especially with respect to development and legislation in the field. Despite the fact that social economy in Romania is not a priority for the development, several private initiatives have begun to take shape and to create patterns for compensating the need for financing of the social sector and especially for creating workplaces for deprived categories. We hope that these patterns, constituted and financed especially through the European Social Fund, will constitute the practical and professional experience necessary for creating a correct and "friendly" legislative frame for the sector. Considering the economical, social and political crisis that Romania is going through, we need more than ever that social economy becomes a topic for discussion on the public agenda. There is urgent need for a national strategy in the field, a coherent legislative framework allowing sustained and durable development through fiscal benefits; social economy needs to be financed / subsidized by local authorities, it needs to allow access to public agreements and to be the object of the public - private partnership. There are samples of best practices, but they need to be supported and replicated in order to create as many chances as possible in the process of insertion, especially for creating workplaces for deprived categories of people. The "Alături de Voi" Romania Foundation developed such a pattern in its centers in Iasi, Constanta and Tg. Mureş. The foundation's activity in the field of social economy can be viewed on the online store www.utildeco.ro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article makes an analysis of cooperatives in Romania in terms of their role in the context of socio-economic development of society by generating new jobs and social integration, by eradicating poverty and by inclusion of vulnerable groups and categories. Since the cooperative phenomenon has become a highly visible and present one in the European and Romanian public life, through this paper we want to answer a series of questions related to the occurrence and evolution of cooperatives at national and international level, the approaches to this phenomenon which have emerged at European level and which are the regulations governing their organization and operation in the Romanian space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Europe 2020 for an intelligent, echological, favourable-to-the-inclusion increase" strategy represents the joint direction of the member states towards active measures for the promotion of professional insertion, for creating and keeping work places and reducing the unemployment. In this context, the social economy represents one of the most spread solutions for the labour market challenges, offering an alternative model of the social inclusion of vulnerable groups and an alternative model of business based on the principles of equity and social responsibility in the decision-making process. The current paper focuses on presenting the concept of social economy in our country in the context of the existing legislation, the general framework of organization and functioning of the organisms which perform social economic activities, the mechanism of support and encouragement, as well as the financing sources that these organisms benefit from. A separate chapter will focus on the situation which exists in the Suceava County as regards the development of social services and the inclusion on the labour market, with their respective forms of social economy. The paper ends with some conclusions and recommendations for the supporting the development of social enterprises in Romania, having as starting point the difficulties met by these ones and also focusing on the results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to develop a strategic project of intervention in the area of social protection of children is based on the identification of the specific difficulties of this social category. In this project we develop a series of specific strategies regarding the cases of children coming from underprivileged backgrounds. The aim of the study is the understanding of specific priorities in terms of social policies applicable to the area of interest. We have considered the following categories of children: children from families with educational or material problems, children discriminated at school or based on race, other categories. Social intervention strategies are a necessity in contemporary Romanian society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is obvious that nowadays the Romanian village is confronted with major transformations. As a fundamental social and economic entity, it accumulated, over the centuries, a large series of important issues. Especially "the peasant issue", which took shape at the beginning of the XIXth century, is still influencing the evolution of the rural world, being present with both its dimensions. The aim of this paper is to present how the land issue continues to play a crucial role in the non-profitable Romanian agriculture, obstructing the exploitation of its considerable potential. This aspect is far more complex as we are still passing through a difficult economic crisis, not to speak of the world food crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out as an explanatory approach, supported with theories and statistical data, for the development of the social economy sector in Romania. Following a brief review of the literature, which informs the theoretical basis of this paper, We presented a series of economic and social data, expressing the needs of several social groups, potential actors in the social enterprise arena. The study has dealt with the issue of social economy by analysing two daily papers and a professional journal, as well as by interviewing 14 experts who work in the social field, in state institutions and NGOs. After analysing the articles published in the two papers and the journal, it can be stated that there is, in the context presented, a certain interest in the issue of social economy. The articles on this subject referred to different approaches in the field of social economy, the main idea being, particularly in the journal, that social economy represents a potential for creating jobs and for the social integration of the disadvantaged. As far as the results obtained after analysing the interviews are concerned, social economy is seen by experts as an opportunity to integrate disadvantaged groups into the labour market, to reduce social marginalization and to improve local communities' quality of life. The conclusions of the paper point to the need, but also to the possibility of developing social economy in Romania, the need to stimulate and sustain it, especially in regards to social entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article addresses a topic of interest for both the public sector and the nonprofit sector, namely that of the innovative practices of social economy. Diverse practices and models of social economy are increasingly present in the Romanian community, this being the reason why it is important to study the major coordinates of social economy and social entrepreneurship identified by means of an empirical research done in Romania. Social economy is considered one of the most important innovative strategy approaches as this sector may contribute to some efforts done for the elimination of poverty and the re-launching of local economies. The integration of the identified elements in regional programs and public policies is the starting point of the strategic approaches regarding reform in public administration. Social economy can be an example of joint action for public and private organizations and institutions interested in carrying out community projects based on inclusive, participative and innovative forms of community development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article contains some reflections about social economy in Romania. These reflections are based on the participatory observations of the author as an expert and they were realized during the initiation and unfolding of some social economy projects in different phases. They are also the outcome of the author's participation at international conferences in Brussels about social economy and conceptualization of the theory in practice. The scope of the article is to draw attention to the necessity of a analysis on the impact of structured projects in the social economy domain, the need of developing some theoretical concepts after the projects have ended, in other words adapting the theory to reality, and the fact that the universities must promote these projects. In the rural environment the perspective for the most communities is that of further developing associativity between vulnerable groups and the persons with entrepreneurial experience. This involves the further developing of trust and participatory spirit. The Universities have the responsibility of promoting new and social innovative learning patterns in the social economy domain for the future social workers and social teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the premise that, under the circumstances of the present economic crisis, the understanding and capitalization of social economy are essential, the hereby paper attempts at emphasizing the need of developing this field, mainly owing to its capacity of creating and providing jobs. Relying on the hypothesis according to which social economy has strengthened its position of alternative form of economic development founded upon social and economic values and principles (volunteering, democracy, non-patrimonial goals, professional development of its members, and autonomy before the State), we consider that this field both displays a manner of developing businesses according to the principles of social equity and responsibility and represents an important source of jobs and a significant contributor to the GDP. At the same time, we should notice the fact that the forms of social economy play an important part in settling economic and social issues, providing a range of activities and services whose demand is not always properly covered by private or public entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]