SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND MICROFINANCE AS TOOLS FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN ROMANIA

• Main Authors: OANA-MIRELA COJOCARU (DIACONESCU), ANAMARIA BUCACIUC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academica Brâncuşi 2016-12-01
• Series: Analele Universităţii Constantin Brâncuşi din Târgu Jiu : Seria Economie
• Subjects: Social enterprises; microfinance; poverty eradication; government policy; development strategies
• Online Access: http://www.utgjiu.ro/revista/ec/pdf/2016-Special%20ECOTREND%20Vol%201/26_OANA-MIRELA%20COJOCARU.pdf
• ISSN: 1844-7007; 1844-7007

Poverty is a dangerous indicator that situates Romania in top positions in many EU statistics: 40% of the population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and 29% have severe material deprivation. Even though it has been stated on several occasions that funds for the eradication of poverty in Romania do exist, the lack of interest and focus on solving this problem have led to the mismanagement of these funds. In contrast with the previous EU financing programme, a new perspective on the policy creation regarding poverty alleviation has been recently developed and is presented as an integrated package. This wishes to bring together disparate programmes/projects and different stakeholders. This proposal is a very different approach from institutional/methodological point of view, and it has been said to mark “the start of an effective capacity building effort”. The purpose of this literature exploration is focused on the potential Romanian social enterprises and microfinance have in poverty alleviation, taking into consideration that these tools have been created especially for poverty eradication. Our conclusion has been that policy makers have to sustain the development of social enterprises through microfinance, which most of the times can be the single financial instrument available to them.