SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A POSSIBLE INSTRUMENT FOR STATE SOCIAL POLICY IN BULGARIA

Abstract

Social entrepreneurship is one of the topics that have been on the agenda of Bulgarian society for quite
some time. Increasingly, the state, municipalities and the non-governmental sector are recognizing the opportunities
that social enterprises provide for addressing social problems of various kinds and finding lasting solutions to
overcome the social exclusion of vulnerable groups in society. Social enterprise is a phenomenon that emerged from
the development of the social economy, which aims to combine social, economic and political objectives.
Nowadays, the social economy is considered an effective way of creating and managing human capital, recognising
the importance of personal and societal interests. In most countries of the European Union, social enterprises are an
important element in the development of the non-governmental sector. There is a need to create modern social
enterprises in Bulgaria following a Western model. So far, the concept of social enterprises is still under discussion.
The obstacles to the inclusion of socially vulnerable groups other than people with disabilities are serious.
Developing the vision, clarifying the goals and objectives of social enterprises as an instrument of social policy and
social integration of people with disabilities and of economic development requires a thorough analysis of past
trends, current conditions and future development. Entrepreneurs are constantly looking for new models to tackle the
growing global challenges in a sustainable way. There are a number of studies dealing with the theoretical concepts
of these topics; however, the definitions and framework for action differ from country to country. Social
entrepreneurship in Bulgaria is developed within a clear legal framework. The current state of social enterprises is
linked to relevant public policies, while the number and types of social entrepreneurs have been steadily increasing
over the last few years. There are still many measures and actions that need to be taken in order to promote future
policy measures aimed at supporting social entrepreneurs in Bulgaria. This report aims, by presenting the meaning
of the concepts of corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship, establishing the relationship between
them and examining different models of social entrepreneurship, to highlight the advantages and opportunities of
social entrepreneurship and the prospects for its development in Bulgaria