The Social Economy and Public Administration: exploring and analysing mutual support.
The social economy refers to a range of economic activities that prioritize social and environmental goals alongside financial sustainability. It comprises organizations and initiatives such as cooperatives, mutuals, non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and community-based projects. (Moulaert and Nussbaumer 2005)

All aim to address societal needs, foster community development, and promote social well-being
while operating within an economic framework. (Chaves and Monzón 2012) Governmental bodies
are responsible for providing public services and public goods. This may be done directly or indirectly through private and third sector organisations. (Di Domenico et al 2009)

The panel will offer a range of papers from researchers in different countries. They will examine
different aspects of the social economy with a focus upon how it operates to the mutual benefit of
public administration. (Vaillancourt 2009, Espasandín-Bustelo et al 2023,). The format will be the
customary one of presentation with allocated reviewer comment.

The social economy covers a range of activities which typically prioritise social and environmental
goals whilst also aiming for financial sustainability. This is, depending on definition and legal form,
acquired through some form of trading activity which may be via public sector contracts. The broad social economy takes a range of legal forms and these may vary between countries.

However,regardless of legal forms the two sectors are linked and often interdependent in meeting common agendas such as relief of poverty, employment generation, inclusiveness and green agendas.(Chaves-Avila and Gallego-Bono 2020, Smith 2005, Plewnia and Guenther 2018)

There are factors which we identify such as

• Complementary roles
• Policy support
• Collaboration and Partnership working
• Social innovation and development of services and products in keeping with their mission