Desafios e expectativas da economia solidária: um estudo de caso sobre a Casa da Economia.

Abstract

The present study's theme is the solidarity economy, but specifically a case study at the Solidarity Economy house in Sumé- PB. The term “solidarity economy” gained expression and official status in Brazil during the 1990s, as economic initiatives based on the free association of

people recognized for their participatory nature and principles of cooperation and self- management emerged. The general objective was to evaluate how the solidarity economy

interferes in the lives of the citizens of Sumé-PB, what are their challenges and expectations for improvement and life. This research is characterized as a descriptive, exploratory study, of a qualitative nature and using bibliographical research, through a case study, with the application of interviews to employees of the Solidarity Economy house, above all, to evaluate mainly the way in which this house of the economy brings proposals for the community as a whole. With this, we seek to identify the main challenges faced by solidarity economy enterprises in Sumé in different geographic and cultural contexts, identifying the expectations associated with this sector of the economy and highlighting its potential benefits in terms of social inclusion, reduction of inequality and sustainable development. It is also important to investigate the practices of self-management and democratic participation within solidarity economy enterprises and their impacts on decision-making and economic efficiency. Thus, despite frequent challenges, the city's solidarity economy strengthened over time and somehow managed to grow, overcoming difficulties, improving the quality of life of its beneficiaries.