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Apur, The Parisian urban planning workshop on the scale of Paris and Greater Paris documents, deciphers, supports, illuminates, projects, explores and shares diversity.

The Social and Solidarity Economy in the Greater Paris - Grand Paris -

Current situation and recommendations

The Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) represents a major asset in terms of social cohesion and equality, economic development and the ecological transition. Its brings together a wide heterogeneity of players active in diverse sectors: social work, housing, education, the circular economy, craftwork, culture, sport, etc. This study presents a detailed and geographically-specific overview of ESS and its recent transformations in Grand Paris, cross-referencing different data sources and methodologies. It shed light on the existing tools that support ESS  and proposes strategies to promote its expansion.

Icône de la catégorie The Social and Solidarity Economy in the Greater Paris - Grand Paris -
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La Balise premises, 7 quai du Saule Fleuri – Île-Saint-Denis © Bruno LEVY – Seine-Saint-Denis Departmental Council

In the Grand Paris metropolitan area, the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) represents 7% of establishments and 8% of salaried jobs, with a higher employment density than in Ile-de-France or France as a whole. Even though more than half ESS organisations in Grand Paris are concentrated in Paris, (56%), they appear to be more evenly distributed across the territory than all establishments of all sectors combined. Municipalities like Montreuil, Saint-Denis, Boulogne-Billancourt, Nanterre and Créteil are significant hubs of ESS activity. The ESS ecosystem in Grand Paris is characterised by a particularly marked presence of non-profit associations (over 92%) and small organisations (85% employ fewer than 10 members of staff).

Access to affordable, suitably adapted and high quality workspace is a major challenge for the development and sustainability of ESS activities, in a context of severe pressure on real-estate in Grand Paris and other major cities. The creation of a multi-source, geo-localised database of ESS organisations, has shown that, although 70% of organisations are located on premises owned by private entities, almost 29% are based in property or on land plots owned by public bodies, in particular social housing landlords and local authorities.

The first part of the study looks at the history, scope and challenges involved in defining the Social and Solidarity Economy, based on documentary research of regulatory texts. The second part describes the current situation of ESS in the metropolis of Grand Paris and recent trends in terms of employment, economic weight and sectors of activity. These analyses incorporate data extracted from a previously unpublished database, cross-referencing several datasets (economic and tax data) in relation to the addresses of organisations. The third part develops various leverage points to promote the setting up of ESS organisations into the existing urban fabric and urban projects. The final part presents avenues for reflection and recommendations for the spread of this type of economy in Grand Paris.

Infographie - L’économie sociale et solidaire dans la métropole du Grand Paris © Apur

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