Ensaios sobre economia solidária à luz do desenvolviemnto sustentável: uma análise do Projeto Esperança/Cooesperança em Santa Maria (RS)

Abstract

Through the analysis of the precepts that guide the solidarity economy, we identify an intrinsic relation between this movement and the concept of sustainable development, a term of multidimensional character introduced in the world discussions in 1980, which involves, besides the economic dimension, the analysis of dimensions social, environmental and political, mainly. Considering the significance of the Esperança / Cooesperança project in the national and international scenario of the solidarity economy movement, the present study intends to measure the extent to which compliance with ES principles can provide this project with a type of development that is aligned with the objectives of the sustainable development. For this, the analysis of the level of social development provided by the Esperança / Cooesperança project is carried out, through the verification of the degree of incidence of multidimensional poverty among its members. This analysis is carried out with theoretical bases of Amartya Sen and the methodological apparatus of Alkire-Foster and Permanyer (2016). In addition, in order to investigate the other dimensions that involve the concept of sustainable development, a sustainable development index is produced for economic enterprises in solidarity, based on changes in the analytical base formulated by Reis (2005) and the use of sets and systems of fuzzy inference. Both analyzes are developed through the exploration of primary data, collected through the application of questionnaires to the cooperative sample of the Esperança / Cooesperança project. As main results, the work shows that there are still bottlenecks with regard to the articulation and formation of partnerships that can provide technical support to the enterprises, as well as issues related to access to working capital by productive groups. Nevertheless, the enterprises analyzed showed good performance in the social dimensions, with low incidence of multidimensional poverty among the individuals investigated in the sample; in addition to a satisfactory level in the political and environmental dimensions, which ratifies the differentials of economic enterprises in solidarity, regarding internal democracy, poverty alleviation and respect for the environment in their productive practices. From the results found in the work, it is proposed, as a way to remedy or lessen the problems presented by the enterprises, a greater articulation at regional and national level, with local movements, universities and public power. This would be done in order to strengthen and give visibility to the solidarity economy movement, in the struggle for an agenda of public policies that will benefit and amplify the remarkable positive impact of these groups, especially with respect to the generation of work and income, as well as the mitigation of poverty in its multidimensional aspects.