Preliminary communication
Social entrepreneurship in Croatia: Do regional disparities influence young people’s perception of social entrepreneurship as a potential career path?
Julia Perić
orcid.org/0000-0001-8031-7435
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Anamarija Delić
orcid.org/0000-0003-4808-7080
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
The process of creating a better life in society requires the engagement of all the actors of society. The level of personal readiness to participate actively in the community is a prerequisite for building social responsibilities of all individuals. It also influences the development of social entrepreneurship, which, by integrating economic and social values, offers more sustainable solutions for a variety of social problems and the removal of traditional boundaries between government, business community, academia and civil society. This paper will look into the level of personal readiness of individuals in Croatia, by placing a special emphasis on youth because their energy and potential represent the pillar of future development of the society. At the same time, their inertness and passivity point out that young people are not aware of their important role in society.
This paper compares young people’s perception of social entrepreneurship in Croatia and its importance in the process of personal and community development. By researching young people (students) from different regions (the City of Zagreb, as the most developed region, and in the City of Osijek, as the centre of one of the least developed regions in Croatia) and with different educational orientation (business, electronic engineering and art) the paper explores whether students recognize social entrepreneurship as a new approach for solving various social problems but also as a possible career option with which they can make a profit.
Keywords
social entrepreneurship; regional disparities; youth
Hrčak ID:
127783
URI
Publication date:
3.10.2014.
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