Researching the Social Economy

Here in Canada, the social economy has only recently received a lot of attention by researchers and academics. Us this page to connect to the most recent research and researchers, both here in Canada, and internationally.


The Canadian Social Economy Suite

The Canadian Social Economy Hub (CSEHub) acts as a facilitator for the Canadian Social Economy Suite, promoting collaboration among six regional research centres across Canada (Québec, Atlantic, Southern Ontario, Prairies, Alberta, BC and the North), and creating opportunities and exchanges with international networks. CSEHub reaches out to practitioners, to researchers and to civil society, through the regional research centres and their community partners. It undertakes research as needed in order to understand and promote the Social Economy tradition within Canada and as a subject of academic enquiry within universities.

The five regional research nodes are at various stages in their activities.

• Click here for detailed information about all 28 research projects happening in Sourthern Ontario. The Southern Ontario Social Economy Node has also published an attractive eZine that outlines their current work. Download their eZine here.
• Click here for information about the five research clusters that the Quebec node will focus on. Note: this website is only available in French
• Click here for information about the five research clusters that the Prairies node will focus on.
• Click here for information on the research projects underway at the Northern node.
• Click here to download podcasts of CSEHub telelearning sessions.

The Social Economy Suite is a five-year research initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.


Other Canadian Social Economy Research

• Co-ops and the Social Economy - A report prepared by the Co-operative Secretariat of the Government of Canada
• Horizons Publication (Click here to download the full PDF) - The February 2006 edition of the Policy Research Initiative's Horizons focused entirely on research and thinking on the social economy.
• What We Need To Know About the Social Economy: A Guide for Policy Research (Click here to download the full PDF) - A July 2005 report that provides background on the social economy, identifies research issues and offers suggestions on how this research might be conducted. Prepared by the Policy Research Initiative.

International Research Initiatives

The CSEHub have compiled a substantive list of links to international social economy research. Click here to explore the social economy research happening around the World.