In this paper recent approaches to the role of social protection systems within economic development policies are discussed. Important experiences are considered, in particular those implemented in medium and low income countries, where new tools for increasing the effectiveness of social and development policies have been tried and tested. Read More
The paper offers a contribution to the understanding of the relations between incentives, satisfaction and performance of employees in social enterprises. It starts by criticizing the general hypotheses of the principal-agent theory and especially that employee satisfaction is determined exclusively by the level of salary received. Read More
One of the most relevant sectors where the cooperative offer has established itself is undoubtedly that of credit. If we consider the importance of its role, for the development of other sectors and of the territories and communities where it operates, and the economic and political power that it can consequently confer on those who manage it, some problematic aspects typical of organizations become crucial here. not-for-profit. The latter are discussed in theoretical form in the first part of the work, while in the second the first applications and the debate that accompanied them are analysed. Read More
Starting from the assumption that the performance of the ANPs depends on the perception that the various stakeholders have regarding the achievement of the mission, this paper analyzes the case of the Volunteer Service Centers (CSV). The paper presents the results of an action research developed with 61 Italian CSVs. Read More
The paper proposes an estimate of the economic role of the cooperative system in the province of Trento which takes into account not only the direct contribution to the production of income, but also the production and employment activated in businesses other than cooperative ones. Read More
The paper explores the way the work of classic institutionalist authors can inform modern nonprofit economics. From the perspective of Thorstein Veblen, nonprofit organisation is explained as an institutional consequence of the pecuniary-industrial dichotomy. Read More
The working paper highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement processes for the definition and measurement of performance indicators: the social value produced is such, in fact, only if perceived by the stakeholders involved. Read More
This paper provides a comparative assessment of the legal frameworks for non-profit organisations (NPOs) in England and Japan, offering fresh insights into the differences in legislative support for NPO development in both countries. Read More
We investigate what is behind the profit/not for profit wage differential by comparing judgments on job characteristics of workers who voluntarily or involuntarily moved from the first to the second sector. Our findings support the differential profit/nonprofit compensation hypothesis and shed light on mechanisms that go beyond the work-donating behavior of intrinsically motivated workers. Read More
Italian worker cooperatives tend to accumulate a high share of profits in indivisible reserves, a fund that is unavailable and cannot be appropriated by members. The research investigates the reasons for this practice, after discussing the most frequently used interpretations. The hypothesis that is formulated is that indivisible reserves play an important role in protecting the stability of employment in cooperatives. Read More
The paper examines the main limitations of the orthodox and institutional theories and comes to assert the need for creating and testing a new theoretical framework, which considers the way in which diverse enterprises pursue their goals, the diverse motivations driving actors and organizations, and the different learning patterns and routines within organizations. Read More
This paper presents the principal characteristics of the new Italian co-operative law and seeks to evaluate the relationship of some of its main provisions to traditional co-operative principles. Using the Italian reforms as a starting point for debate, this paper puts forth the possibility of generalising a modified approach to co-operative regulation and principles, taking into account efficiency issues, while preserving the co-operative identity. Read More