Social Economy in Rural Areas

Abstract

The development of the social economy in rural areas represents one of the most important directions of contemporary research on sustainable development, social cohesion, and innovation in public policy. In the face of growing challenges, such as depopulation, population ageing, energy transition, climate change, and income inequalities, the social economy functions not only as a tool for redistribution and support but also as a space for experimenting with new models of cooperation and solidarity-based economies. Rural areas, long defined by their peripheral status and limited access to public services, are increasingly becoming sites of social and economic innovation. This special issue of Social Entrepreneurship Review: Social Economy in Rural Areas consists of ten articles and a Viaria supplement. The volume presents diverse dimensions of social transformation processes based on research conducted in Poland, Portugal, Finland, Canada, and Hungary.