For all these reasons, support for the social economy should be considered an important
part of an economic recovery strategy. Far from being a risky investment, social
economy enterprises have shown their resilience in the toughest economic times.
Numerous studies have shown that the survival rate of cooperative and non-profit
enterprise is substantially higher than traditional small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Governments engaged in support for the social economy are witness to high rates of
social and economic return. Even private investors, in the context of the financial crisis,
are beginning to notice the potential for investment in social economy enterprises. In the
last year, amid staggering losses in mainstream investment, mission-driven investment
or social or solidarity finance are showing a modest but constant financial return on
investment with a minimum of risk