Expanding Social and Solidarity Economy. The Case of Ateneus Cooperatius Policy in Catalonia

This research examines the co-production of the Ateneus Cooperatius policy in Catalonia, Spain. This public policy aims to foster more democratic, inclusive, and equitable economic development through collaboration between multi-level state actors—including regional and local governments—and diverse stakeholders from the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Launched in 2016 by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the initiative established 14 decentralized hubs designed to promote the SSE by leveraging the situated knowledge of local participants. The policy has since evolved through iterative co-creation between the regional government and hub representatives. This study investigates the challenges and opportunities of this innovative framework, which maintains a collaborative structure from inception to implementation. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach—incorporating Social Network Analysis (SNA) alongside qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups—the research evaluates existing governance structures and identifies inherent obstacles. Furthermore, it highlights the impact of policies requiring multi-level cooperation across a spectrum of decentralized actors, ranging from regional authorities to small-scale cooperatives. Finally, the study assesses the policy’s role in disseminating visions for more democratic and just economic paradigms.