This article aims at delivering new theoretical interpretation and quantitative evidence concerning the emergence and development of social enterprises (SEs) in Italy. Where the former is concerned the article seeks to provide the core features necessary to identify when an organization can be defined as a SE. In particular, the analysis retraces the steps back to the intersection between “classical” studies on entrepreneurial non-profit organizations and the more recent literature on entrepreneurial action and social responsibility for the business enterprise. The institutional and quantitative analysis then focuses on the development of SEs in Italy, discussing the institutional evolution of the new legal forms, and the principal area of activity of SEs in Italy. This country represents a key player in the evolution of SEs as it pioneered legislation and practice in Europe and the emerging new frontier for modeling different types of SEs.

中文翻译：

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社会企业：组织模式的演变及其在意大利案例中的应用

本文旨在提供有关意大利社会企业的出现和发展的新理论解释和定量证据。在涉及前者的情况下，本文力图提供必要的核心功能，以识别何时可以将组织定义为SE。尤其是，该分析将步骤追溯到对企业家非营利组织的“经典”研究与有关企业的企业家行为和社会责任的最新文献之间的交叉点。然后，制度和定量分析将重点放在意大利社会企业的发展上，讨论新法律形式的制度演变，以及意大利社会企业活动的主要领域。