This time, it's not the wolves who win, but the lambs. According to the latest report by Unioncamere, the organization that brings together the Italian chambers of commerce, the sector that best resists the crisis is the one made up of non-profits, social entrepreneurship and the cooperative system, thanks in particular to young people and women. A slice of the economy that produced over 2012 billion euros of added value in 66, equal to 4,7% of the total income generated in Italy.
The cooperative system has 77 active businesses registered at the end of 2013 in the registers of the Chambers of Commerce and employs over 200 people (those surveyed in 2011). And for 2014, 73500 new jobs should arrive, which should be occupied above all by young people and women. The sector also focuses on social inclusion, with opening up to migrants and those who have had few opportunities to study.
“Our data, once again, certify the importance of the cooperative system and social entrepreneurship in the national economy”, commented the general secretary of Unioncamere, Claudio Gagliardi. “Precisely to bring out its great potential, Unioncamere has promoted, in collaboration with Universitas Mercatorum and 38 chambers of commerce, the Start-up social entrepreneurship system initiative, aimed at providing free services to accompany the development of the social entrepreneurial project and start up through training and information initiatives, guidance, technical assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as activities aimed at facilitating connection with the credit and microcredit system”, concluded Gagliardi.
