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Abstract

Agri-food cooperatives play a crucial role in economic and social development, especially in rural areas, becoming an economic, social, and cultural engine for the less populated regions of the country. The objective of the article is to analyze how information technology, innovation capacity, and knowledge-oriented leadership can improve the efficiency of agri-food cooperatives. The methodology employed is based on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM). FCMs allow knowledge to be expressed graphically and infer cause-and-effect relationships among the concepts under analysis. The study involved 20 experts in the management of Andalusian agri-food cooperatives, each with more than 20 years of experience in executive positions. The results show that knowledge-based leadership has a positive relationship with the innovation capacity and efficiency of cooperatives. Information technology plays an essential mediating role, facilitating both radical and incremental innovation. Additionally, cooperatives that invest in information technology and the development of employee skills tend to be more efficient and competitive. This work highlights that agri-food cooperatives should commit to innovation supported by knowledge-oriented leadership and the intensive use of information technology to be competitive in the global market. These factors are key to improving efficiency and ensuring sustainable development in the agri-food sector.

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How to cite this article

MORENO-DOMÍNGUEZ, Mª Jesús, ESCOBAR-RODRÍGUEZ, Tomás & PELAYO-DÍAZ, Yolanda Mª (2025): “Innovation and Efficiency in Agri-food Cooperatives: The Influence of Information Technology and Knowledge-Oriented Leadership”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 5-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.29402

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Abstract

This study examines the urban economic-occupational structure in Argentina following the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the “popular economy,” an emerging sector within the labor and political spheres. It explores its nature, characteristics, and connections with the market economy, as well as its dynamics in the context of economic recovery. The research faces challenges due to the heterogeneity and instability of this segment and the limited available information. Using microdata from national surveys, an occupational classification is proposed that distinguishes between the formal, public, micro-informal, and popular economy sectors, composed of self-employed or associated workers. The analysis includes a descriptive sociodemographic and sociolabor profile of these workers, a comparison of factors associated with each segment through multinomial logistic regressions, and a description of occupational transitions using panel data and fixed-effects regression models. The findings suggest that Argentina’s popular economy constitutes a subsistence economy, functioning as a “shelter sector” against unemployment by generating its own labor demand in unstable occupations.

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How to cite this article

SALVIA, A., POY, S. & DONZA, E. (2025): “The urban popular economy in Argentina during the exit of the pandemic”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 37-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.28002

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Abstract

Gender equality is a growing concern in the social economy. Although numerous studies on gender exist, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis of wealth distribution systems in Europe, particularly within organizations. This work introduces the GWEI (Gender Wage Equality Index), an indicator designed to highlight gender wage disparities through social accounting. The GWEI operates on two levels: one based on secondary data analyzing wage distribution and another using analytical social accounting to evaluate value transfers among stakeholders. The analysis focuses on seven companies, with special emphasis on the case of Lantegi Batuak, addressing the implementation of the GWEI in the Social Economy. Innovations include analyzing employment balance, mapping stakeholders sensitive to gender imbalances, evaluating stakeholder dialogue, formulating questions on value generated and imbalances, segmenting data by gender, and using the GWEI as a specific ratio. The results demonstrate the GWEI’s potential as a tool to address gender imbalances in organizations, both public and private, and its contribution to the development of sustainable gender strategies.

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How to cite this article

RETOLAZA, J.L. & SAN-JOSE, L. (2025): “Analytical (Social) Gender Accounting as an Opportunity for the Social Economy”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 69-99. https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.28067

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Abstract

There are still some aspects of the history of the Mondragon Cooperative Experience that have not been sufficiently explained. This cooperative initiative is internationally acclaimed for its success in developing industrial worker cooperatives. However, choosing the worker cooperative model was not an obvious decision given the context of the international and European cooperative movements at the time. During the period when the founders of Mondragon were establishing their first industrial cooperatives, the cooperative movement was dominated by consumer cooperatives, the ideological supremacy of consumer hegemony, and a general discredit of worker cooperatives. Interestingly, the first cooperative initiated by Arizmendiarrieta was the San José consumer cooperative, a fact that has largely been overlooked by researchers studying this cooperative experience. This article explores the reasons behind the decision to focus on worker cooperatives. It examines the intended role of the San José consumer cooperative envisioned by Mondragon’s founders and outlines the philosophical and conceptual motivations that led them away from the consumer cooperative model in favour of industrial cooperatives. This analysis provides a deeper understanding of the cooperative vision held by the founders of Mondragon.

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How to cite this article

ORTEGA-SUNSUNDEGI, I. & RUIZ-DE-AUSTRI, M. (2025): “Understanding Mondragón’s Industrial Cooperative Strategy: Why the European Model of Consumer Cooperativism Was Set aside in Favor of Worker Cooperatives”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 101-129.

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Abstract

Social Initiative Cooperatives (SICs) are considered one of the three traditional types of social enterprises in Spain, in addition to insertion enterprises and special employment centers. They play an important role in social inclusion and in improving social, environmental and local well-being. To date, empirical research on them has been limited, focusing mainly on the legal, regulatory and institutional spheres. This research aims to fill this gap and provide knowledge about their situation in the Spanish context at the end of 2022 and their general characteristics. The methodology used is based on a quantitative analysis of the population of social initiative cooperatives in Spain, based on the information provided by all the regional registers of cooperatives. The results show the existence of 856 active SICs, which constitute the existing population in Spain in December 2022. They are distributed throughout the country, particularly in four regions (Catalonia, the Basque Country, Madrid and Andalusia). Most of them focus their activities on the social, health and education sectors, although the CISs cover 16 of the 21 headings of the CNAE-2009 classification. Their initial size is limited, and they are often set up with less than ten members and a capital of less than 5,000 euros.

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How to cite this article

PLANA, E., DÍAZ, M. & BERNAD, C. (2025): “Social Initiative Cooperatives in Spain: Context and Characteristics in 2022”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 131-160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.28885

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Abstract

This article analyses the presence and evolution of women’s participation in federated sport in Spain over the last decade and focuses on public measures to promote equality in sports within the framework of the Social Economy (SE). The questions guiding the analysis are three. First, given that the field of SE constitutes a space for the balanced participation of women, the aim is to reveal whether there is an (in)equitable participation in the different roles of federated sport and its recent trend. Second, describe the public programmes that promote equality in this framework and find out their use and performance. Finally, to reveal the point of view of these organisations on different qualitative issues, such as the barriers when incorporating women into the sports field, the specific actions they have implemented, the agreements signed or the training provided in this regard. The sources of information to develop this work are, on one hand, public sources such the Spanish Higher Sport Council, the Women’s Institute or the Ministry of Equality; on the other hand, as a primary source, a questionnaire was used to describe the actions aimed at equality in the federated sports field. The research concludes that these ES entities, despite showing a gradual increase in equity, are found to be places with a low balance in the participation of women and that the promotion of public actions and policies for equality is scarce for this purpose.

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How to cite this article

MONTALBÁN, Rosana & GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS, Antonio (2025): “Women, sport and Social Economy. Participation, evolution and impact of promotion programs in Spanish sports federations”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 161-190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.27963

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Abstract

The study examines the impact of organizational social capital (OSC) and social spin-off on the viability of newly created cooperatives in Costa Rica. Historically, cooperatives have been key to financial democratization and ownership empowerment in the country. However, since 2000, the creation of cooperatives has declined significantly, affecting their economic impact. This paper employs a mixed approach to analyze the influence of CSO on the sustainability of 23 agro-industrial cooperatives involved in a UNED Social Spin-Off program between 2019 and 2024. Five hypotheses are proposed, of which four are validated, highlighting the importance of associative density, civic participation and sustainable practices in the operability of cooperatives. The research concludes that while institutional trust in the municipality has an unexpected negative impact on operability, factors such as internal cohesion and civic engagement are critical to cooperative success. Strategies to reduce institutional dependence and strengthen associative networks, civic engagement and sustainable practices are recommended, suggesting that these measures can improve the viability and sustainability of cooperatives in Costa Rica.

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How to cite this article

SANABRIA GARRO, Oscar & LI BONILLA, Federico (2025): “Organizational social capital as a tool to enhance the viability of newly created cooperatives in Costa Rica within the social spin-off between 2019 and 2024”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 191-217. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.29353

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Abstract

Cooperatives are recognized for their substantial involvement in the communities where they operate, governed by principles and values that serve as guidelines for action management. The main objective of this work is to analyze corporate volunteering as an action of corporate social responsibility and its relationship with social capital and cooperative principles. The research employs a qualitative approach through a case study, combining data collection methods such as documents and interviews. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed, and MaxQDA Analytics Pro 2022 software was used for information analysis. All components involved in generating social capital were identified and described according to the theoretical model, highlighting the strong presence and influence of cooperative principles, thus enhancing the generation of social capital through corporate volunteering practices. The presence of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aligned with voluntary actions was also noted, generating social capital with value for participants. Our results also demonstrate that corporate volunteering serves as a response to the challenges of COVID-19, thereby reinforcing the idea that companies with more substantial social capital have a greater capacity to respond to social challenges. As a suggestion for future research, it is recommended to explore other aspects that can strengthen social capital in cooperativism, such as values and principles in isolation and complementary projects to volunteering, also studying the generation of social capital through corporate volunteering in other organizational contexts.

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AMARAL, L.V., ALBERTON, A. & CÉ, F.R. (2025): “Social Capital and Corporate Volunteering: A Study in a Cooperative in Southern Brazil”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 219-241.

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Abstract

Minimum income schemes represent a monetary benefit that provides a last safety net against income loss and social exclusion. The regional development of these benefits in Spain has led to significant regulatory and budgetary differences, as well as problems of inter-territorial equity.

Despite the extensive literature that has evaluated the coverage and results of the regional minimum income schemes in Spain, no estimates of the non-take-up of these benefits have been found. This indicator, which measures the percentage of the eligible population that does not claim the benefit, should be included with the coverage rate in evaluating a public policy. This gap in the literature is due to the lack of an adequate database.

The study, carried out using Household Panel data, estimates that the non-take-up of minimum income schemes in the Common Regime Autonomous Communities in 2019 ranged from 55% to 94%, depending on the programme analysed. This percentage is higher than in other European countries. The study also analyses the protective capacity of the minimum income schemes, which exclude more than 50% of the population at risk of poverty due to their eligibility rules.

In 2020, the Minimum Vital Income was implemented throughout Spain. Among the objectives of this initiative are the homogenisation and rationalisation of minimum income’s situation. However, so far it has not been able to significantly reduce the existing non-take-up.

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MUÑOZ-HIGUERAS, Diego, FUENMAYOR, Amadeo & GRANELL, Rafael (2025): “Measuring non-take-up in Regional minimum income schemes in Spain”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 243-274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.28610

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Abstract

In recent decades, more and more people have decided to venture into entrepreneurship. The arrival of COVID-19 was a disruptive moment that highlighted the need to review the current economic model to increase its connection with improving society through more sustainable management models. The entrepreneurial option in the social economy is manifested through creating companies where the social purpose is an indisputable priority, generating quality and stable employment, facilitating the insertion of disadvantaged people into the employment market, and encouraging respect for the environment. This paper analyzes the resources of social economy entrepreneurship in Spain, precisely its current situation and potential shortcomings, to propose actions for its improvement. The study is qualitative, using the semi-structured interview instrument. Twenty interviews were conducted with people designated by the selected entities, according to the following selection criteria: geographical scope, type of entity, and interest and specificity of their work. Our research findings show critical practical implications for the agents that develop and implement entrepreneurship policies. Therefore, they represent an essential diagnosis of entrepreneurship in the Spanish context and a significant anchor point for comparing the impact of all the measures to promote entrepreneurship developed in national and European contexts.

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RINCON-ROLDAN, Francisco & BAENA-LUNA, Pedro (2025): “Analysis of entrepreneurship resources in the Spanish Social Economy”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 275-296. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.28379

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Abstract

In the complex 1970s, Sweden’s majority trade unions and the ruling Social Democratic Party designed and presented an economic project that, had it been implemented, could have challenged the very foundations of capitalism in that country: the wage-earners funds. The project, in its original version, constituted a step towards the socialization of capital through the gradual transfer of the means of production and management power of enterprises to the workers. This paper explains the history of this idea from the approach of the Marxist critique of political economy. The aim is to enrich the discussion by addressing four aspects: 1) the characteristics and the potential for relative radical economic, political and social change of the original project; 2) the subsequent political difficulties for its implementation derived from the rejection by capital and a fraction of social democracy itself; 3) the substantial differences between the original plan and the one that was finally implemented; 4) the actual functioning of the funds throughout the 1990s, their results and their final abolition.

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ROSAL, M. (2025): “Wage-Earner Funds in Sweden: Potential and Limits of a Social Democratic Strategy toward Industrial Democracy”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 297-330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.24745

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Abstract

In the field of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI), the European Union (EU) has played a leading role in recent years for its leading role in promoting green investments through the European Green Deal. Moreover, to mitigate the negative socioeconomic effects of the pandemic, the EU has become one of the main issuers of euro-denominated debt. In addition to issuing green bonds, under the European Recovery Fund program, it has issued, for the first time, social bonds to finance the unemployment protection program established in EU Regulation 2020/672. This paper analyzes green and social bonds aimed at financing the EU’s environmental and social programs, and compares them with conventional bonds from the same issuer, to determine if there is a difference in their performance that allows us to infer the existence of a green or social premium, as the case may be, and to try to explain it through a multiple linear regression analysis. While there is an abundance of studies in the scientific literature on the green premium, the same is not true for the social premium. Among the findings of this research, it is highlighted, on the one hand, that green and social bonds with higher levels of liquidity also exhibit higher yields, and on the other hand, that volatility implies that secondary market investors require higher rates. Additionally, social bonds have larger yield spreads compared to green bonds, suggesting that the social premium of bonds issued by the EU is wider than the green premium in the secondary market.

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How to cite this article

GARCÍA-ESCOBAR, J., FERNÁNDEZ-GUADAÑO, J. & MASCAREÑAS, J. (2025): “Green and social bonds to finance sustainable projects in the European Union”, CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa, 113, 331-360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7203/CIRIEC-E.113.29506