The Impact of the Social Economy on Poverty in Flanders (SOCIAL): Evaluation and Outlook

Research Design

In this study, we examine whether employment in the social economy leads to a sustainable reduction in the poverty risk among target-group employees. We use both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and we explore the impact at both the individual and societal levels. More specifically, we address the following research questions:

1. What are the personal and household characteristics of people employed within the social economy?
2. What is the poverty risk among workers in the social economy, and how does this risk evolve when individuals enter or exit social economy employment?
3. How do target-group employees and staff members perceive the impact of social economy employment on other forms of social exclusion?
4. Which mechanisms at the personal, family, organizational, and policy levels are associated with the poverty risk of workers in the social economy
5. From a macro-perspective, what is the potential of the social economy to reduce poverty rates in Flanders?

Throughout the project, we consistently differentiate between sheltered workshops (maatwerkbedrijven) and the local service economy (lokale diensteneconomie).

This project is a collaboration between AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the University of Antwerp, and KU Leuven, commissioned by the Department of Work & Social Economy of the Flemish Government.

The AP research team focuses on research questions 3 and 4, which examine the lived experiences of target-group employees and the mechanisms influencing their poverty risk within the social economy. To achieve this, they conduct in-depth interviews and focus groups.