Social entrepreneurship as a factor in improving the quality of life in the region

The article discusses the problems of the formation and development of social entrepreneurship. The main criteria and signs of social entrepreneurship are analyzed.

The purpose of the study is to identify the potential of social entrepreneurship in improving the quality of life in the region (using the example of the Republic of Mordovia). The research is based on theoretical approaches that consider social entrepreneurship through the concepts of social capital, social and moral responsibility, and quality of life. The directions and criteria of social entrepreneurship are considered on the basis of the regulatory framework, and data from an expert survey are presented.

Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, the authors conclude that social entrepreneurship is currently becoming an active subject of social policy implemented at the regional level. The authors propose to consider social entrepreneurship as a hybrid phenomenon that combines economic strategies and social activity. In the Republic of Mordovia, social entrepreneurship acts as a tool for solving local socio-economic problems. The region has seen an increase in initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable segments of the population, creating jobs and developing local communities. Social entrepreneurs become catalysts for change, forming a new consciousness in which everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the common good. Empirical evidence shows that social entrepreneurship contributes to the development of social capital through strengthening social ties, building trust, maintaining reputation and introducing social innovations.