ENTITIES OF THE SOCIAL ECONOMY IN SPAIN: STUDY OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

The goal of this paper is to analyze the evolution of the cooperative societies and the "sociedades laborales" (a specific organizational form in Spain) from 1999 until 2007 in the Spanish regions and to related the economic context where the activity of these entities is executed with its contribution to economic development and job creation. The used methodology is the analysis of convergence, proposed by Barro and Xala i Marti. So, it is possible compare the dynamic followed by Social Economy and Spanish Economy in the reduction of inequality in the GDP and employment between Spanish regions. The conclusion is that the Social Economy is more established in those territories with greater numbers of employees and in those with higher income per capita.