Solidarity Economy in Public Policies in Croatia

U ovom radu analiziraju se praktične implikacije koncepta solidarne ekonomije te elementi javnih politika koje utječu na solidarnu ekonomiju u Hrvatskoj. U širem smislu, solidarnost je uobičajena sastavnica ekonomskog ponašanja. U užem značenju, solidarnost se odnosi na skup ekonomskih praksi koje zadovoljavaju kriterije vezane uz balansiranje ekonomske, društvene i okolišne održivosti, zajedničko vlasništvo i participativno upravljanje. Solidarna ekonomija podupire izgradnju i održavanje zajedničkih ekonomskih dobara, u okviru pravnih osoba, ugovornih odnosa ili običajne/neformalne suradnje. Bliska je pojmu socijalne ekonomije, a bitno različita od suradničke ekonomije. Javne politike kojima se potiču solidarne ekonomske prakse imaju ishodište u režimu socijalne države i razini solidarnosti u društvu, na što se nadovezuju ideologije, strategije i aktivnosti političkih i ekonomskih aktera. Društveni doprinosi solidarne ekonomije i rizici kojima je izložena opravdavaju državnu intervenciju u to područje, koja se može očitovati u regulaciji te u institucionalnoj, financijskoj i poreznoj potpori akterima i procesima. Javne politike u Hrvatskoj uglavnom ne prepoznaju važnost socijalne i solidarne ekonomije i njenih aktera, gdje posebno analiziramo zadruge i društvena poduzeća. Premda u Hrvatskoj raste prepoznavanje mogućih doprinosa socijalne i solidarne ekonomije društvu i gospodarstvu, poticajni okvir je nepotpun i nedostatan, što se odražava na rezultate i buduće izglede ovog sektora.This paper provides an analysis of the practical implications of the concept of solidarity economy and the elements of public policies that affect the solidarity economy in Croatia. In a broader sense, solidarity is a common component of economic behaviour. In a narrower sense, solidarity refers to a set of economic practices that meet the criteria of balancing economic, social and environmental sustainability, joint ownership and participatory governance. Solidarity economy supports the construction and maintenance of common economic goods, which may occur within legal entities, as well as in contractual relations or informal cooperation. Solidarity economy is close to the concept of social economy, and significantly different from collaborative (sharing) economy. Public policies that encourage solidarity-based economic practices have their origins in the welfare state regime and the level of solidarity in society, which is followed by ideologies, strategies and activities of political and economic actors. The social contributions of the solidarity economy and the risks to which it is exposed justify state intervention in this area, which can be reflected in regulation and institutional, financial and tax support to its actors and processes. Public policies in Croatia generally do not recognise the importance of the social and solidarity economy and its actors, such as cooperatives and social enterprises. Although the recognition of possible contributions of the social and solidarity economy to society and the economy in Croatia is growing, the incentive framework is incomplete and insufficient, which is reflected in the results and future prospects of this sector