DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY STRATEGIES IN BRAZIL: CASE STUDIES

Kátia SANTOS

PhD. University of the State of Amapa/Researcher of the Study Group on Educational Policy and Management, Brazil

katia.santos@ueap.edu.br

Hermínia GONÇALVES

PhD. Assistant Professor at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), and Senior researcher at Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD), Vila Real, Portugal

hgoncalves@utad.pt

Teresa SEQUEIRA

PhD. Assistant Professor at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), and Senior researcher at CETRAD, Vila Real, Portugal

tsequeir@utad.pt

Francisco DINIZ

PhD. Associate Professor with Abilitation retired from UTAD, and Senior researcher at CETRAD, Vila Real, Portugal

fdiniz@utad.pt

Abstract

The solidarity economy is guided by the guidelines of sustainable development, presenting the principles of self-management (as a mechanism for valuing freedom), equality between members and the exaltation of solidarity. This article aimed to analyze the development of income generating activities based on solidarity economy strategies, explaining individual and territorial impacts in the State of Amapá, located in the extreme north of Brazil, in order to show the main state development policies adopted. We used a qualitative research, with the selection of four projects for case studies, in order to measure the main advances and challenges that are required in the segment, as well as the impacts of the development policies to the solidarity economy in the projects studied. This study identified the need for restructuring in the formats of management policies of government agencies, which should operate in a harmonious and articulated way, but rather act in isolation and without effective communication between them, impairing the quality and result of the services offered. With regard to the impacts of the solidarity economy for the enterprises, it was verified that the activities investigated achieved financial return, which could be substantially intensified, if there was a better structuring in the development policies.

Keywords: Development, Solidary Economy, Public policy, State of Amapá

JEL classification: R58, L31, I38
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