Cooperatives and social enterprises: Work and employment in selected countries

This study uses the ICA definition of cooperative, which is adopted by the EU. Legal definitions within individual countries also tend to rely on the ICA definition. As a more recent phenomenon, there is less agreement on the definition of social enterprise and this study uses the European Commission's definition (2011b). Some EU Member States have specific laws relating to social enterprises but they tend to be in the minority. New forms of cooperatives and social enterprises have emerged, some of which are based on the principles of both types of organisation. Other emerging forms include the platform cooperative and, as new forms of social enterprise, the community interest company and the B Corp.