An Empirical Investigation of Supportive Legal Frameworks for Social Enterprises in Belgium: A Cross-Sectoral Comparison of Case Studies Concerning Social Enterprises in the Social Housing, Finance and Energy Sector

A. Argyrou*, T.E. Lambooy, Rob Blomme, Henk Kievit, G. Nieuwenhuizen Kruseman, D. Hora Siccama

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how the existing legal framework for social enterprises in Belgium affects the activity of social enterprises in the social housing, finance and energy sector. The focus is thereby on the legal factor of governance and the decision-making power of stakeholders. These matters are examined in respect of one particular type of social enterprises, the so-called company with a social purpose, ‘Vennootschap met Sociaal Oogmerk’ (VSO). The authors conducted three case studies in Belgium. They examined in which way the VSO law has been implemented in three social enterprises which are active in different sectors, i.e. the energy, finance and housing sector and compared the results. By comparing the case studies, this article aims to generate (i) a cross-sectoral theoretical analysis regarding the practical application of the legal factor of governance in the three Belgian social enterprises and, (ii) a comprehensive understanding of the involvement of different stakeholders in the social enterprises’ governance in these sectors. Useful conclusions were drawn for the improvement of the legal framework for social enterprises in Belgium as well as for the improvement of the social enteprises functioning.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLegal Aspects of Sustainable Development
Subtitle of host publicationHorizontal and Sectorial Policy Issues
EditorsVolker Mauerhofer
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Pages151-185
Number of pages35
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-26021-1
ISBN (Print)978-3-319-26019-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Dec 2015

Keywords

  • Social enterprises
  • Cooperatives
  • Governance
  • Stakeholders
  • Belgium

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