Analysis of the sustainability of organizations in the Popular and Solidarity Economy Sector in Ecuador

Abstract

Despite the growing body of research in the field of popular and solidarity economy, there is a gap in understanding one of the variables, namely the age of the associations. The objective of the present research is to analyze the longevity of solidarity organizations in Ecuador, determining whether the distribution of age ranges of associations differs significantly according to the economic group to which they belong within the Popular and Solidarity Economy Sector. For this purpose, the Chi-square test of independence was applied in order to establish whether a statistically significant relationship exists between the two variables. The study population consisted of all organizations registered with SEPS at the time of the research. This population was stratified into three main types: Associations, Cooperatives, and Community Organizations. The associations were also classified by economic group: Consumption, Production, Services, and Housing, and further by age range. The research concludes that there is a significant relationship between the age of the associations and the economic group to which they belong within the Popular and Solidarity Economy Sector in Ecuador. Production and Services concentrate the majority of associations in the intermediate ranges, while Consumption and Housing show less presence and more dispersion. There is a clear need for institutional strengthening programs, training, and technical and financial support that can sustain them through the different phases of their life cycle, promoting their resilience and expansion.