SCALING UP OR DEEPENING? Analysis of Social and Solidarity Economy entities scaling strategies from a community approach

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Published 27-02-2026
Enekoitz Etxezarreta Etxarri Pablo Arrillaga Unai Villalba Eguiluz Juan Carlos Perez de Mendiguren

Abstract

This article analyses the scaling strategies of Solidarity and Transformative Social Economy (STSE) organisations in the Southern Basque Country, interpreting their growth incentives and strategies from a community perspective. In addition, the analysis of the scaling strategies of these organisations incorporates the variable of belonging to the different STSE networks, establishing intentional connections between the scaling and networking strategies. Among the main results, four scaling logics have been proposed organised according to the ‘target communities’ they address. In this way, to the classic classification of mutual and general interest organizations established from the academic literature, a third interest has been added: community interest. Finally, the study attempts to place the scaling logics detected in STSE organisations in the “sufficiency” paradigm, highlighting the referentiality of these projects in the search for experiences of limited profit and economic sufficiency that are compatible with our biophysical limits.

How to Cite

Etxezarreta Etxarri, E., Arrillaga, P., Villalba Eguiluz, U., & Perez de Mendiguren, J. C. (2026). SCALING UP OR DEEPENING? Analysis of Social and Solidarity Economy entities scaling strategies from a community approach. GIZAEKOA - Revista Vasca De Economía Social , (22). https://doi.org/10.1387/gizaekoa.27594
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