BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH:

The aim of this three-year research is to explore the current situation of the social economy and social enterprises/initiatives in various rural regions of Hungary, and to examine the relationship between their specific (substantive) mode of operation and the social integration of disadvantaged/difficult-to-integrate local people, as well as the coherence of local communities.

Our research investigates the characteristics of the social economy on multiple levels: on one hand, we are conducting national-level data collection to map different organizations, and on the other, we are carrying out expert interviews with professionals who have insight into various support structures and organization types. Taking into account organizational density and heterogeneity, four different rural sub-regions will be selected for intensive fieldwork and deeper examination.

The novelty of this research lies in its approach: it does not merely map actors in the social economy based on traditional organizational forms and available databases, but aims to uncover a wider range of actors using expert interviews, local data, documents, and a snowball method based on a substantive definition. Social enterprises/initiatives are studied not as isolated entities but as embedded in local societies and networks, combining several sociological and anthropological methods to enable in-depth analysis (such as semi-structured interviews, field visits and participatory observation, visual data collection, focus groups, and network analysis).

The research focuses not only on the individual-level benefits of the social economy (e.g., for disadvantaged workers) but also on its broader impact on communities. As such, it connects research areas like social economy and local identity or place attachment. This research is linked to previous studies on the social economy and local economic development in Hungary, and through systematic analysis, it highlights changes that have occurred over the past decade. It expands our knowledge not only of the social economy and local development but also of contemporary rural Hungarian society, and is expected to yield important results from the perspective of social integration and sustainable development.

RESEARCH TEAM:

• Márta Kiss – Lead Researcher
• Bernadett Csurgó – Senior Researcher
• Boldizsár Megyesi – Senior Researcher
• Katalin Rácz – Senior Researcher
• Gyöngyi Schwarcz – Senior Researcher
• Botond Palaczki – Research Associate

MAIN RESULTS (2024–2025):

Within the framework of the research, a database was created containing the actors of the Hungarian social economy. Based on this database, national- and district-level maps were produced, and four districts were selected for in-depth fieldwork.

 

 

 

 

An interactive map was also developed, presenting the distribution of social economy forms in Hungary by mapping different organizational and support structures.
Link: https://szocgazd.gyerekesely.tk.hu/

Research:

The planned national expert interviews were completed, and fieldwork was conducted in four districts. This included:

a) regional-level expert and organizational interviews, document collection, and the mapping of local websites;

b) three municipal-level “deep dives” per district (a total of 12), involving interviews with mayors, organizational leaders, civil actors, and local residents, the mapping of organizational networks, field visits, and visual documentation.

The data recording and analysis phase has now begun.

Conferences:

• In connection with the research topic, between July 7–11, 2025, we organized a thematic session at the international conference “Navigating rural transitions: Exploring liveable futures” of the ESRS, held in Riga, titled: “Building Liveable Rural Futures: Social and Solidarity Economy in the Light of Social and Climate Justice in Rural Areas”, where we also presented our first research results.
• At the Xth EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise, held in Rotterdam between November 3–7, 2025, we delivered a presentation on the situation of social cooperatives titled: “Experimentation or Professionalism. Types of Social Cooperatives”.
• In connection with the research topic, we organized a national conference session at the 2024 annual conference of the Hungarian Sociological Association, titled “Digitalization and Social Change”, held in Pécs. Our research group also presented its initial findings in this session.
• At the Xth Village Conference titled “Regional and Rural Development Processes of the Last Forty Years”, we presented a paper entitled: “Social Economy and Sustainability in Disadvantaged Rural Areas. Perspectives of Awareness Raising” (Pécs, May 28, 2024).

Publications:

Kiss, Márta – Rácz, Katalin (2024): Beyond the Formal Economy. Social Cooperatives for Labour Integration under the Pressure of Market Competitiveness. Social Enterprise Journal, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 472–498. Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1750-8614; DOI: 10.1108/SEJ-09-2023-0112 (Q1);

Available at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/sej-09-2023-0112/full/html