The Role and Sustainability of Social Enterprises in the Hungarian Economy

The economies of the Central and Eastern European countries have suffered a significant decline as a result of the geopolitical changes of 1989-90. A number of enterprises with low efficiency, obsolete technology and product structure closed down. The lack of new productive capacity led to a sharp rise in unemployment. The recession, inflation and employment problems particularly affected Hungary's regions. A series of social enterprises have been set up to improve employment in disadvantaged municipalities, as a result of local and government initiatives. In their study, the authors review their spatial distribution, their impact on the local economy and society, and the challenges related to the sustainability of their operations.