Fostering Social Enterprise: A Historical and International Analysis

39 Pages Posted: 29 Apr 2010

Date Written: January 8, 2010

Abstract

Several states in the United States are attempting to nurture the growth of social enterprise by adopting statutes which enable the registration of Low-Profit Limited Liability Companies ("L3Cs"). The L3C is the first American legal form to embrace and facilitate social enterprise. However, Belgium and the United Kingdom created legal forms to achieve similar ends many years prior to the creation of the L3C.The Belgian and U.K. experiences with these legal forms as well as the historical treatment of social enterprise in the United States provide lessons for how the United States should regulate the L3C and social enterprise in general. This paper tracks the development of social enterprise in the United States and Europe and ultimately proposes that effective government policies need to stimulate capital investment in social enterprise and generate greater public understanding of the sector's potential benefits.

Keywords: Social Enterprise, L3C, B-Corp, CIC, Double Bottom Line, Hybrid Entities, Social Entrepreneurship

Suggested Citation

Doeringer, Matthew F., Fostering Social Enterprise: A Historical and International Analysis (January 8, 2010). Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 291-329, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1581525

Matthew F. Doeringer (Contact Author)

Duke University School of Law ( email )

210 Science Drive
Box 90362
Durham, NC 27708
United States

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