Acknowledgments . . vii
Contributors . . ix 

Introduction: The Social Economy in Quebec: A Laboratory of Social Innovation . . 3 
1 How the Social Economy Won Recognition in Quebec at the End of the Twentieth Century . . 25 
2 Social Economy Research Partnerships: The Quebec Experience . . 71 
3 Governance and the Associative Sector ot the Social Economy: The Partnership between the State and Civil Society in Question . . 97 
4 The Co-construction of Public Policy: The Contribution of the Social Economy . . 127 
5 The Uncertain Evolution of Association Law in Quebec: The Achilles' Heel of the Social Economy? . . 158 
6 Solidarity Finance: History of an Emerging Practice . . 180 
7 The Social Economy, the Environment, and Sustainable Development: From Specialized Sector to Renewed Social Vision . . 206 
8 The Social Economy: A Springboard for Local Development Projects? . . 229 
9 Factors Influencing Wage Relations in the Social Economy . . 255 
Conclusion: Studying Social Innovation: Lessons from the Social Economy . . 273