Between October 23 and 24, 2024, the Social and Solidarity Economy Congress of Chile was held, organized by the University Network of Social and Solidarity Economy of Chile (RUESS), as a way to learn about, debate and project the reality of the social and solidarity economy in the country. At the event, Felipe Correa, ECLAC researcher, participated in the panel “Constitutions, laws and policies of social and solidarity economy”, in which he presented a diagnosis of the state of the social and solidarity economy in Latin America and the Caribbean.
After reviewing some of the institutions present in the region, Correa explained that the development of the social and solidarity economy is closely linked to the existence of a solid institutional framework. Countries such as Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay have solid national institutions that support the sector with specific programs and funds for the sector.
Regarding legislation, Correa highlighted countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Uruguay, which have legally defined the concept of SSE, facilitating its consolidation. An example of interest is the case of Costa Rica, where the SSE is defined not by law, but by a ministerial decree, which allows opening a complementary path of action.
According to a recent study published by ECLAC for the case of Chile, it is estimated that around 25,000 social and solidarity economy organizations and companies are established annually in the country, which is equivalent to 10% of the conventional companies established in the country every year. anus. Of the SSE organizations and companies, the vast majority correspond to community organizations.
To conclude, Correa proposed a series of strategies to promote the SSE in Chile: establish a first definition of social and solidarity economy via ministerial decree that allows outlining a policy for the sector, and encourage collaboration and dialogue between the different legal forms. that make up the ESS, for example, through a National Social Economy Roundtable. This would allow Chile to take advantage of its potential and approach the levels of participation and development observed in other countries in the region.
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