SERC 3 Research Projects
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/488
Year One and Two Projects2024-03-28T13:55:58ZBALTA Project C18 - Procurement Policy and Market Development for the Social Economy: expanding the market opportunities for social enterprise, co-operatives, and other social economy businesses.
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2827
BALTA Project C18 - Procurement Policy and Market Development for the Social Economy: expanding the market opportunities for social enterprise, co-operatives, and other social economy businesses.
LePage, David
This proposal/plan describes research being conducted by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) in association with Enterprising Non-Profits and the ISIS Centre at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia. The research will pull together data and resources on social purchasing procurement and use this to construct an online resource centre for those seeking to enhance social purchasing.
2010-09-25T21:27:18ZBALTA Project C17 - Building a Supportive Environment for Social Enterprise: Synthesis of SERC 3 Research Findings
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2826
BALTA Project C17 - Building a Supportive Environment for Social Enterprise: Synthesis of SERC 3 Research Findings
Sousa, Jorge; LePage, David
This proposal/plan describes research being conducted by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA). This project involves analyzing a range of research projects conducted by BALTA with a view to identifying research findings relevant to social enterprises and to synthesize key findings into a unified analysis. The analysis will be based on an analytic framework developed out of the BC Social Enterprise Summit (BCSES). The BCSES established a framework intended to lead towards a series of strategic actions of what is required to provide a framework for creating a supportive environment for social enterprise. According to the framework, there are four integrated components.
1. Encourage Awareness and Demonstrate the Value of Social Enterprise;
2. Enhance Enterprise Skills;
3. Ensure Access to Capital and Investment; and
4. Expand Market Opportunities.
2010-09-25T21:22:02ZBALTA Project C16 – Survey of Social Enterprises in Alberta and British Columbia
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2825
BALTA Project C16 – Survey of Social Enterprises in Alberta and British Columbia
Hall, Peter V.; Elson, Peter R.
This proposal/plan describes research being conducted by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) in association with Simon Fraser University and Mount Royal University. The project is surveying social enterprises in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The survey data will be used to develop a profile of the nature, scope and socio-economic contribution of social enterprises in Alberta and British Columbia and link this profile to community, educational and technical support organizations and institutions to further potential support for social enterprises.
2010-09-25T21:14:16ZBALTA Project C-15 - Taking Social Embeddedness into Account in Community Robustness and in the Social Economy
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2824
BALTA Project C-15 - Taking Social Embeddedness into Account in Community Robustness and in the Social Economy
Reed, Paul; Lewis, Mike
This proposal/plan describes work undertaken by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) in association with Dr. Paul Reed of Carleton University. The project draws from recent research of Statistics Canada and explores the concept of social embeddedness as a basis for considering community resilience and the social economy. The project will identify possible implications for how we might apply the concept of embeddedness in monitoring the state of the social economy in communities.
2010-09-25T21:07:13ZBALTA Project C-14 - Leadership in the Community Sector: Understanding the Challenges, Competencies and Needs of Practitioners in the Social Economy
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2820
BALTA Project C-14 - Leadership in the Community Sector: Understanding the Challenges, Competencies and Needs of Practitioners in the Social Economy
Lewis, Mike; Siemens, Lynne
This proposal/plan describes research being conducted by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) in association with the University of Victoria. This project gathered information about the educational needs of people working in the social economy with a view to providing research input into the development of a BALTA supported initiative to develop a new MA program in community development to be offered by the University of Victoria.
2010-09-22T20:08:41ZBALTA Project C13 - Return on Taxpayer Investment for Training Businesses
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2815
BALTA Project C13 - Return on Taxpayer Investment for Training Businesses
Lewis, Mike; Mendell, Marguerite
This proposal/plan outlines a research project of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA), to examine the experience of what are referred to in Quebec as les entreprises d’insertion. While the term training businesses is used in English, this merely describes the focus on the activity performed in these environments, i.e. training, whereas entreprises d’insertion draws attention to the objective of the business, which is to achieve social and professional integration through training. People living in situations of poverty can experience a variety of conditions that include isolation from friends, family, neighbours, community events, government and community resources. Training businesses address this by providing work experience and skills upgrading for participants, leading to improved employment prospects. This paper will explore the Quebec context, the training businesses that exist in Quebec, the enabling environment that has supported their development and provide an overview of the current state of affairs for training businesses. Significant results and the issue of return on investment will also be addressed.
2010-09-20T22:54:19ZCredit Unions as a Financing Source for the Social Economy
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2814
Credit Unions as a Financing Source for the Social Economy
Perry, Stewart E.
This proposal/plan outlines a research project of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA). This project conducted initial exploratory research concerning credit unions as a foundation for developing a proposal for subsequent more in-depth research.
2010-09-20T22:03:11ZBALTA Project C10 - Municipal Government Support of the Social Economy Sector (Revised Plan)
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2812
BALTA Project C10 - Municipal Government Support of the Social Economy Sector (Revised Plan)
Kain, Jenny; Wulff, Stuart; Hall, Peter V.; Reimer, Brendan
This revised plan describes research being conducted by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) in association with the Saskatchewan/Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario node of the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships. The purpose of this study is to research the current state of municipal government involvement in and support of the social economy sector. The social economy sector can offer innovative responses to the complex social and economic challenges that municipalities face. As the level of government closest to people and communities, municipal governments can play a lead role in supporting the social economy sector. This research into the role of municipal government in the social economy will help us to understand their intermediary role, and identify opportunities for strengthening this role.
The research scope includes municipal governments in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario (northwestern portion of the province).
2010-09-20T18:21:29ZMunicipal Government Support of the Social Economy Sector
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2811
Municipal Government Support of the Social Economy Sector
Kain, Jenny; Gismondi, Mike
This plan/proposal describes research being conducted by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) in association with the Saskatchewan/Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario node of the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships. The purpose of this study is to research the current state of municipal government involvement in and support of the social economy sector. The social economy sector can offer innovative responses to the complex social and economic challenges that municipalities face. As the level of government closest to people and communities, municipal governments can play a lead role in supporting the social economy sector. This research into the role of municipal government in the social economy will help us to understand their intermediary role, and identify opportunities for strengthening this role.
The research scope includes municipal governments in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario (northwestern portion of the province).
2010-09-20T18:17:16ZBALTA Project C9 - CED and Social Economy Policy Inventory in B.C. and Alberta
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2810
BALTA Project C9 - CED and Social Economy Policy Inventory in B.C. and Alberta
Sousa, Jorge; Lewis, Mike
This project proposal/plan outlines a research project of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA). The research will involve conducting an inventory of federal and provincial legislation (in Canada and the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia), policies and programs that are relevant to community economic development and the social economy. Initial work will focus on developing a classification framework to guide the inventory. This will be followed by a systematic surveying and analysis of relevant legislation, policies and programs.
Based on current knowledge of advances that have been made over the last 20 years in CED and the social economy, in Canada and in other jurisdictions, the importance of enabling legislation, policy and programs is evident (Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Britain). The range, scale and durability of impacts appears to be significantly enhanced where the architecture of public policy is strategic and supportive. Beginning in 2004 CCEDNet, the Chantier and the CCA made some modest progress in advancing a federal policy agenda that took into account this learning. Other than the CCEDNet inventory of 4 years ago, there has been no attempt to do a systematic inventory of current policies. Doing an update is thus timely. However, it is important to note that what is being proposed is not a mere update of what exists. Central to this work is the design of a classification system codified from practice, rooted in exemplary practices, and taking into account what we know about policy in jurisdictions where CED and the social economy have been demonstrably strengthened.
2010-09-20T15:55:37ZExploring Applications of the Nova Scotia Co-op Development System in B.C. and Alberta
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2808
Exploring Applications of the Nova Scotia Co-op Development System in B.C. and Alberta
Murray, Carol; Aasgard, Michele; Lewis, Mike; Colussi, Michelle; Cabaj, Paul
This research proposal outlines planned research examining how to strengthen the co-operative development systems in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. It builds upon earlier research of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) that examined the recent history of successful innovation and development in the co-operative sector in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been unparalleled in other parts of Anglophone Canada.
2010-09-19T19:41:39ZBALTA Project C6 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase Two)
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2804
BALTA Project C6 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase Two)
Lewis, Mike
This proposal/plan describes a second phase research project for the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) to explore the relative merits and limitations of social economy and solidarity economy conceptualizations by applying both to case studies of the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance and RESO (Regroupement pour la Relance Économique et Sociale du Sud-Ouest) in Montreal, Quebec.
Phase One of this research developed the theoretical conceptual analysis comparing the social economy and solidarity economy concepts.
2010-09-15T18:03:09ZBALTA Project C5 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase One)
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2803
BALTA Project C5 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase One)
Lewis, Mike
This proposal/plan describes a research project for the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) to explore the relative merits and limitations of social economy and solidarity economy conceptualizations from a theoretical perspective.
2010-09-15T17:53:40ZBALTA Project C4 - Preliminary Profile of the Size and Scope of the Social Economy in Alberta and British Columbia
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2802
BALTA Project C4 - Preliminary Profile of the Size and Scope of the Social Economy in Alberta and British Columbia
Sousa, Jorge
This project proposal/plan describes research undertaken on behalf of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) to develop a preliminary profile of the social economy in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, using data from existing sources.
2010-09-15T17:46:33ZProject C8 - Social Return on Investment (SROI) Analysis Framework
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/1115
Project C8 - Social Return on Investment (SROI) Analysis Framework
Anielski, Mark; BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA)
This research project will develop a paper examining the current state of development in SROI (social return on investment) analysis with a view of developing a suitable framework that would help measure the financial/economic and social returns to human, social and economic capital from social economy enterprises in B.C. and Alberta.
This project will provide important context for the overall BALTA research objectives, particularly that of SERC 3. SERC 1 has also expressed a strong interest in research on SROI, specifically with respect to analyzing the efficacy of various approaches to SROI from the viewpoint of their effectiveness as tools for advocacy on behalf of the social economy sector. This project would provide important baseline information from which to subsequently explore SERC 1’s research question.
2007-09-18T20:07:11ZProject C11 - Credit Unions as a Financing Source for the Social Economy
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/636
Project C11 - Credit Unions as a Financing Source for the Social Economy
Perry, Stewart E.
This project explores one aspect of development finance in the social economy—namely, the role of the credit union as it appears today in AB and BC. It seeks to describe and analyze a range of activities relevant to the provincial social economies that are currently conducted by selected credit unions. This is intended to highlight the activities that are most productive within the limits of the credit unions’ other priorities. The project will begin with four or more case studies, compare the cases, and extract from this a global analysis of the current and potential place of the credit union in the finance of the social economy.
The social economy in any region or nation will flourish only if there is a supportive infrastructure that engenders and facilitates the local initiative and productivity of individual social economy activities or projects. This infrastructure has to include resources and processes for the mobilization of capital to finance the activities and projects. While there are many possible (and to a very limited extent already accessed) sources for such capital (such as community foundations, churches, government programs, corporations, etc.), one source seems most geared to the values and meaning of the social economy. Because credit unions are member-controlled and focused on the needs of their local communities, credit unions comprise the most obvious and potentially accessible source of development finance for any activities in the social economy. Moreover, the history of the credit union sector suggests that it can expand its significance both locally and nationally.
2007-04-11T03:45:41ZProject C 10 - Municipal Government Support of the Social Economy Sector
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/635
Project C 10 - Municipal Government Support of the Social Economy Sector
Kain, Jenny; Gismondi, Mike
This research project will explore municipal government support of the social economy sector in a Canadian context, with an emphasis on BC, Alberta and the Prairies and Northern Ontario. This is a collaboration between the BC-AB node and the Prairie node of the Canadian Social Economy Hub with conceptual support for the research from CCEDNet. The research will:
-Take into account the working definitions of the social economy in both nodes and CCEDNet to arrive at one that is effective for research across both research groups and understandable to the municipalities;
- Take into account the larger literature scan on municipal aspects of SE being developed by Dr. Mendell’s research group at Concordia;
- Take into account the classification framework relevant to policy research in the fields of CED and the social economy being developed by SERC 3; and
- Take into account the examples of municipal participation that turn up in the mapping processes being developed in both nodes.
The purpose of this study is to research the current state of municipal government involvement in and support of the social economy sector. The social economy sector can offer innovative responses to the complex social and economic challenges that municipalities face.
As the level of government closest to people and communities, municipal governments can play a lead role in supporting the social economy sector. This research into the role of municipal government in the social economy will help us to understand their intermediary role, and identify opportunities for strengthening this role.
2007-04-11T03:41:06ZProject C9-2007 - CED and Social Economy Policy Inventory in B.C. and Alberta (Phase One)
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/634
Project C9-2007 - CED and Social Economy Policy Inventory in B.C. and Alberta (Phase One)
Lewis, Mike; Sousa, Jorge
The work on policy outlined in this annex is conceived of as a first phase in an ongoing project that will extend beyond one year. In developing and implementing an inventory of federal and provincial legislation, policies, programs and initiatives relevant to CED and the social economy in Alberta and B.C., it will:
- build on the BALTA mapping paper;
- take into account the existing CCEDNet policy inventory;
- take into account the work done or under way in other nodes in the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnership;
- take into account the relevant Quebec and Manitoba provincial policies; and
- take into account the current codification of exemplary practices in CED and the social economy.
Based on current knowledge of advances that have been made over the last 20 years in CED and the social economy, in Canada and in other jurisdictions, the importance of enabling legislation, policy and programs is evident (Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Britain). The range, scale and durability of impacts appears to be significantly enhanced where the architecture of public policy is strategic and supportive. Beginning in 2004 CCEDNet, the Chantier and the CCA made some modest progress in advancing a federal policy agenda that took into account this learning, progress that was reversed by the present government.
Other than the CCEDNet inventory of 4 years ago, there has been no attempt to do a systematic inventory of current policies. Doing an update is thus timely. However, it is important to note that what is being proposed is not a mere update of what exists. Central to this work is the design of a classification system codified from practice, rooted in exemplary practices, and taking into account what we know about policy in jurisdictions where CED and the social economy have been demonstrably strengthened.
2007-04-11T03:36:21ZProject C7 - Nova Scotia Co-operative Development System Case Study – Phase Two:
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/632
Project C7 - Nova Scotia Co-operative Development System Case Study – Phase Two:
Lewis, Mike; Perry, Stewart E.
BALTA’s aims, as reflected in the SSHRC proposal, include researching innovative practices that are achieving demonstrable results elsewhere and exploring whether such innovations can be adapted to achieve significant results in Alberta and B.C. Thus, from the beginning, it was understood that it only made sense to do the NS-based case study in Phase One if there was a second phase examining its applicability (or not) to the Alberta and B.C. contexts. Going further than that, the case study was seen as a catalyst that could be used to explore the strengths, constraints, challenges and opportunities existing in the Alberta and B.C. contexts.
Thus, an Alberta and B.C. based second phase project, to be implemented in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, was seen as building upon the Nova Scotia case study.
1. To engage a cross-section of stakeholders in the Alberta and B.C. co-operative systems in discussion of the Nova Scotia system and potential lessons that can be drawn from the Nova Scotia experience that could be relevant to our contexts.
2. To use the Nova Scotia case as a catalyst to foster a broad discussion of the co-perative development systems in Alberta and B.C. – strengths, constraints, challenges and opportunities – with a view towards identifying strategies to achieve significant improvements in the Alberta and B.C. systems.
2007-04-11T03:24:41ZProject C6 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase Two)
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/631
Project C6 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase Two)
Lewis, Mike
Phase one of this project contrasted the Pearse conceptual formulation of the social economy with an alternative formulation called the solidarity economy. This research will document two cases, one from Chicago and another from Montreal, based on existing knowledge, and analyze each using the two alternate conceptualizations defined in phase one.
Based on the paper generated in phase one, which contrasted current conceptualizations of the social economy (Pearce and Restakis) with an evolving concept of a solidarity economy, this second phase further analyzes both through the lens of the Chicago and Montreal cases.
Exploring several key questions will be facilitated through this case based analysis of the main conceptual frameworks.
1. Given the respective domains of action, to what extent does each framework explain, or not, the scope of actions undertaken, the social processes leveraged (e.g. reciprocity) and results being achieved?
2. To what extent is the mix of functions, projects and enterprises undertaken encompassed by each of the two frameworks?
3. What do the findings suggest with respect to what the future role and relevance of the social economy might be, given the basic assumptions embedded in each framework?
As indicated in the phase one project, this research will also assist further clarifying the relationship between territorial and enterprise based approaches.
2007-04-11T03:18:56ZProject C5 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase One)
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/630
Project C5 - From Social Economy to Solidarity Economy: Changing Perspectives in a Volatile World (Phase One)
Lewis, Mike
This project focuses on examining the definition of social economy being used by BALTA and critiquing its conceptual capacity to effectively guide policy and practice in a volatile and rapidly changing global context. Describing some key elements of the context from which CED and the Social Economy have emerged over the last 30-50 years as a point of departure, the project will examine the Pearse definition being used by BALTA to guide its mapping work and offer an alternative formulation that cuts the conceptual cloth very differently. The resulting paper, to be done in April, will be used as a basis for consultation with selected practitioners and researchers in Canada and the United States. The results of the consultations will be documented by the beginning of July and be the basis for further work defined in phase two of this project (see Annex A – Project C6 -2007).
2007-04-11T03:14:38ZProject C4 - Preliminary Profile of the Size and Scope of the Social Economy in Alberta and British Columbia
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/629
Project C4 - Preliminary Profile of the Size and Scope of the Social Economy in Alberta and British Columbia
Sousa, Jorge
The purpose of project is to identify, review and analyze existing data with the objective of developing a preliminary profile of the Social Economy within Alberta and British Columbia. The profile will be comprised of aggregate and separate data of the size and scope of the Social Economy, including: how many people are employed within the Social Economy; major activities; and breadth of activities according to industry classification (NAICS).
Recognizing the presence and significance of the Social Economy in Alberta and British Columbia has been largely based on anecdotal accounts, government reports, and non-government research and reports. In the current policy context and development of BALTA’s research priorities, members and partners of BALTA have identified the urgent need to have some basic and coherent data backing up the importance of the Social Economy in Alberta and British Columbia. For instance, individuals have highlighted the usefulness of gathering basic employment data for the purposes of engaging with decision makers in government.
The objective of this study is to begin to formally recognize the size and scope of the Social Economy in Alberta and British Columbia by creating a preliminary profile. Organizations that form the Social Economy foster a greater measure of solidarity among human beings, their communities and society as a whole by emphasizing the social purposes of mutuality and collective benefit. Specifically, these organizations and activities place higher priority on mutuality, accountability to the public or a defined membership, self-help, caring for people and the environment.
For the purposes of this study, the Social Economy is operationalized as encompassing the range of ways people exchange goods and services (often based on the principle of reciprocity) with each other and distribute profit as surpluses through various mechanisms, including: the family or household economy; local volunteer activities and opportunities; and the wide range of more formally structured organizations, (such as charities or member based associations) that explicitly pursue social goals using business oriented approaches.
The profile of the Social Economy will include a variety of variables, including: number of employees; size of budgets; types of activities or services; and industry classification. The profile will be based on aggregate and separate data from a wide variety of sources, including: research reports; StatsCan; government and non-government agencies. The profile is intended to be used immediately by CED and Social Economy networks (e.g. non-profits, co-operatives and credit unions) for advocacy and planning purposes. Additionally, the profile can be used as a spring board for developing other research projects and priorities. This project forms part of the goals of BALTA and SERC 3 to undertake an analysis and evaluation of the Social Economy infrastructure in a Canadian context. Moreover, this project has been highlighted as approved on the SERC 3 work plan.
2007-04-11T03:10:59ZProject C3 - Socio-Economic and Environmental Context, Profile and Trends for B.C. and Alberta
https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/628
Project C3 - Socio-Economic and Environmental Context, Profile and Trends for B.C. and Alberta
Anielski, Mark; Gismondi, Mike
This project will provide a general socio-economic profile of both provinces using key economic, social, health and some environmental indicators for comparative analysis of well-being conditions in both provinces. As well, concurrent with the Socio-economic Profile (#1), we will examine the potential drivers, trends and impacts on Alberta’s and B.C.’s social economy including issues such as: climate change, peak oil, water supply and quality scarcity, sustainable food production/security.
This project, including both sub-projects, will provide important context for the overall BALTA research objectives, particularly that of SERC 3. Other SERCs have also identified elements of this work as relevant to their areas of interest.
2007-04-11T03:06:39Z