Contemporary development trends in social entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan

This article examines the development of social entrepreneurship under contemporary conditions. Its purpose is to investigate the nature, distinctive features of formation, and development directions of social entrepreneurship in the current socioeconomic environment. It also seeks to identify the main factors affecting its development and assess prospects in this field. The methodological framework consists of a systems approach, comparative analysis, scientific and theoretical generalization, and analysis of regulatory and legal documents. The findings have practical implications for formulating public policy aimed at developing social entrepreneurship, creating a favorable institutional environment for social enterprises, and supporting socially oriented business initiatives. The study establishes that social entrepreneurship is a contemporary business model combining economic efficiency with a social mission. Its development requires not only legal regulation but also financial support, institutional cooperation, promotion of social innovation, and increased public awareness of social entrepreneurship. Analysis of legal instruments indicates favorable prospects for this activity in Azerbaijan. The study shows that expanding public–private cooperation is an important condition for the sustainable development of social entrepreneurship. The scientific novelty lies in the systematic synthesis of contemporary characteristics of social entrepreneurship and the substantiation of the interrelationship between its economic and social functions. The article argues that social entrepreneurship should be viewed not only as a means of addressing social problems but also as an important component of inclusive and sustainable economic development.