西方社会企业概念及其对中国的适用性

Social Enterprise Concept and Its Applicability in China

社会企业是将市场运作和社会使命相结合的新型组织形式。论文从理解社会企业的概念出发,比较美国、欧洲大陆和英国的社会企业学术研究和实践进展,发现并理解其在主流形式、组织载体、使命、收入来源、利润分配、资产处置、自主性和治理方式等方面的异同。论文认为,社会企业在世界范围内的兴起和流行,一方面固然是资源环境的促动使然,一方面则得益于各项制度空间的成熟,包括全方位非营利问责的兴起、市场化创新的持续发展以及非营利开放性的扩展,同时还受到本国非营利发展的路径和需求的影响。对积极寻求'社会管理创新'的中国来说,这一框架有助于理解在中国发展社会企业的动力和阻碍。

Social enterprise is a new form of organization combining s&cial missions with market mechanisms.Based on relevant literature as well as empirical practices in the U.S.,continental Europe and the U.K.,this paper discusses the definitions of social enterprise in these regions and explores the differences among these places regarding social enterprises’ organizing form,mission,income sources,distribution of profits,assets disposal,autonomy and governance.This paper argues that the worldwide popularity of social enterprise is driven by changing resource environments;meanwhile,it benefits from increasingly mature institutional environment,such as the rise of comprehensive nonprofit accountability,continuous innovations in the market,and expanding openness of nonprofit activities.Development of social enterprise is also influenced by local path of nonprofit development.As China is pursuing 'innovative social management',this framework may contribute to our understanding of the rise of social enterprises in China and the potential obstacles.