Social investment: Franco–German experiences

Abstract

With the global financial and economic crisis as a backdrop, we argue that social investment presents an innovative option with considerable potential. Social investment approaches break conventional boundaries that limit investment either to the world of business or, as public investments, to governments. Rather, social investments turn out to be a third option for policy makers, as they combine the economic and the social, the private and the public. Introducing the key models and tools of social investment, the chapter offers examples of social investments in France and Germany. It finds major deficiencies in how such investments are seen and encouraged, and laments the lack of an enabling framework. In conclusion, the chapter makes a plea for international social investment markets, especially at the European level.