Inclusive Growth Paradigms: Evaluating Social Entrepreneurship Models for Poverty Reduction in the Global South
Keywords:
Social entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, poverty alleviation, Global South, hybrid models, sustainable development, development economicsAbstract
As global inequality intensifies in the post-pandemic era, particularly in the Global South, traditional development frameworks are being re-examined for their limited efficacy in addressing multidimensional poverty. Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a transformative model that integrates business innovation with social impact. This paper evaluates diverse models of social entrepreneurship through the lens of inclusive growth and assesses their effectiveness in fostering sustainable poverty reduction across countries in the Global South. Drawing on empirical evidence and case studies, it explores institutional, financial, and community-based enablers that make social entrepreneurship scalable and contextually relevant. The findings highlight that hybrid models, which blend market mechanisms with community ownership, show the greatest potential in delivering inclusive, participatory development outcomes.
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