engleski

Social entrepreneurship in Croatia : do regional disparities influence young people's perception of social entrepreneurship as a potential career path

The process of creating better life in societies 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 search 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 the 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 capital of one of the least developed region 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.

social entrepreneurship; regional disparities; youth

Rad je kao predavanje prezentiran na skupu NYU Stern Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, održanom od 02-04.11.2011.g., New York, SAD.