Social Innovation: THe impacts of new organizational structures
With the rise of social enterprises and new hybrid structures, questions emerge as to how these organizations perform and provide relative to traditional for-profit and nonprofit firms. We study these differences on a variety of outcomes related to firm sustainability, innovation, and pro-social behavior, as well as in response to economic downturns.
To study the rise of social enterprises in the US, we have conducted a number of surveys to understand how new firm types compare to traditional nonprofit and for-profit firms. Most recently, we conducted the Covid-19 Policy Support for Small Businesses & Nonprofits Survey in 2020, funded in part by the Price Center for Social Innovation. Along with my doctoral student, Alina Ha, we are examining the direct and spillover effects of emergency aid to business survival, innovation, and pro-social behavior.
Previously, we conducted two rounds of the North Carolina Social Innovation Survey in 2012 and 2014. With these data, we have examined the relative impact of hybrid legal structures and social enterprise on pro-social behavior and innovation in contrast to traditional for-profit and nonprofit firms. We also conducted a series of follow-up interviews of both social enterprises and incubators in rural and urban communities, which we are analyzing to understand the role of organizational support in developing social enterprises.
Related Publications & Working Papers
• Graddy-Reed, A. (2021). “Decisions of Firm Risk and the Role of Organizational Identity,” Small Business Economics, 57(1), 1-21. • Graddy-Reed, A. (2018). “Do hybrid firms out-provide traditional business structures? An examination of prosocial behavior in North Carolina Firms” Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 47(6), 1223-1248. • Graddy-Reed, A. and Feldman, M.P. (2015). “Stepping Up: An empirical analysis of the use of social innovation in response to an economic recession”. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy, & Society, 8(2), 293-312.
Previously, we conducted two rounds of the North Carolina Social Innovation Survey in 2012 and 2014. With these data, we have examined the relative impact of hybrid legal structures and social enterprise on pro-social behavior and innovation in contrast to traditional for-profit and nonprofit firms. We also conducted a series of follow-up interviews of both social enterprises and incubators in rural and urban communities, which we are analyzing to understand the role of organizational support in developing social enterprises.
Related Publications & Working Papers
• Graddy-Reed, A. (2021). “Decisions of Firm Risk and the Role of Organizational Identity,” Small Business Economics, 57(1), 1-21. • Graddy-Reed, A. (2018). “Do hybrid firms out-provide traditional business structures? An examination of prosocial behavior in North Carolina Firms” Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 47(6), 1223-1248. • Graddy-Reed, A. and Feldman, M.P. (2015). “Stepping Up: An empirical analysis of the use of social innovation in response to an economic recession”. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy, & Society, 8(2), 293-312.
- Reprinted in: Estrella, A. (Ed.) (2017). The Economics of Recession. Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Publication
