Rural–urban features of social innovation: An exploratory study of work integration social enterprises in Ireland
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Published Version
Date
2024
Authors
Olmedo, Lucas
Ruiz-Rivera, María José
O’Shaughnessy, Mary
Chatzichristos, Georgios
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Published Version
Abstract
Geography is a significant element of social innovation. This paper focuses on exploring differences and similarities in the characteristics and contributions towards impact of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs), a form of social innovation which provides otherwise unmet services and opportunities to people at risk of social and economic exclusion and distant from the labour market, in rural and urban areas of Ireland. To do so, we use data from 336 surveys from urban (213) and rural (123) WISEs and conduct an exploratory and spatially sensitive analysis to compare the characteristics, in terms of organisational age, legal and governance form, multiplicity of activities, revenue diversification; and contributions towards impact, in terms of geographical focus/reach, employment, volunteers, and income generation. Our analysis shows that WISEs in urban and rural areas present rather similar organisational characteristics and ways of functioning (legal structure, multiactivity, multiple sources of funding), but their contributions to socioeconomic impact differ according to their spatial location, with urban WISEs generating significantly more employment and income than their rural counterparts. Our study illustrates that socially innovative organisations are spatially sensitive, and that context influences their capacity to create sustainable employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy. © 2024 by the authors.
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Keywords
Rural , Social economy , Social innovation , Urban , Work integration social enterprises
Citation
Olmedo, L., Ruiz-Rivera, M.J., O’Shaughnessy, M. and Chatzichristos, G. (2024) 'Rural–Urban Features of Social Innovation: An Exploratory Study of Work Integration Social Enterprises in Ireland', Societies, 14(6), p.82. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14060082