Urban inequalities and marginalization of the Social and Solidarity Economy: A comparative analysis in the Sants-Montjuïc district in Barcelona

Abstract

This article examines how urban inequalities influence the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) through a study of two Barcelona neighbourhoods. It evaluates the limitations of SSE promotion policies implemented between 2016 and 2024, focusing on their impact on diversifying socio-enterprise initiatives and fostering cooperative ecosystems with ecological and democratic orientations. The research combines sociodemographic analysis, georeferencing of social-economy initiatives and thematic categorization of economic activities, complemented by tools developed within the SSE sector to characterize organizational structures. Findings reveal strong sectoral differentiation: in Sants, cooperative activity centres on housing, social innovation and consultancy, while in Poble-sec, initiatives emphasize care, community health and food services. These contrasts reflect distinct institutional trajectories and pre-existing socioeconomic conditions. The study concludes that current SSE policies have not reversed urban inequality dynamics or equitably diversified local economic ecosystems. It argues for policy approaches grounded in an understanding of how urban inequalities shape civic participation and local economies, and for fostering complementarities that enable the development of a rich, diverse cooperative ecosystem.