Vers une évaluation multidimensionnelle et négociée de l’économie sociale

An assessment of social economy (ES) activities raises various questions. Which concepts and methodology should be employed? How should the unique contribution of the social economy be evaluated at a time when a number of capitalist firms are concerned about social responsibility? The contribution of the ES to the democratization of the economy also raises certain political issues surrounding the evaluation of the social economy. If the specific features of the ES are to be taken into account, neither a perspective that focuses solely on maximum productivity nor a purely economic or managerial approach is adequate. According to the author, there are three interlinking dimensions that need to be considered—the organizational dimension, the social utility dimension and the institutional dimension. As the assessment provides a forum for involvement in the direction and control of action, it thus becomes a critical stage in the governance of ES activities.