Social enterprise and wellbeing - Insights from the capability approach : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University

Abstract

Social enterprises (SEs) are purpose-driven organisations that balance a dual-bottom line. They seek to alleviate pressing societal and environmental issues, supporting their efforts through commercial revenue gathering activities. This research focused on five SEs in New Zealand whose mission centred on employment creation for marginalised people. The organisations provided jobs for individuals with disabilities, former-prisoners, Māori and Pasifika, and at-risk youth. This study aimed to create new knowledge on the impact these SEs had on the reported wellbeing of their employees. It operationalised Amartya Sen’s Capabilities Approach (CA) to conceptualise wellbeing around the opportunities and/or freedoms available to them to lead lives they value, and have reason to value. The approach argued wellbeing was enhanced by expanding the range of things a person could be or do. The CA has been more recently been applied in SE literature. Existing studies have primarily addressed theoretical implications, with particular focus placed on reconceptualising social value. This research has contributed an empirically based assessment of the impact SE has on peoples’ wellbeing. A series of structured interviews assessed the wellbeing of current employees’, and focused on their achieved functioning states. Individuals reported improved levels of trust and life satisfaction, reduced loneliness and more contact with friends, and increased income sufficiency. Modelling using multiple linear regression explored the relationships between wellbeing domains and their associated functioning states. Changes reported in subjective wellbeing were associated with changes across the wellbeing domains including civic engagement and governance, jobs and earnings, and social connections. The research findings show SEs have a positive impact on wellbeing, and it is suggested that the capabilities of some employees expanded after joining their respective organisation.