Social benefit


We talk about social benefits when the benefits achieved by a person or organisation reach the community and not only the members of a specific institution. In the cooperative world the most frequently used expression is that of “external mutuality”.

Article 41 of the Italian Constitution introduces the principle of social benefits:

Private economic initiative is free. It cannot occur as opposed to social benefits or in such a way to do damage to security, liberty, human dignity. The law establishes the appropriate plans and controls so that the public and private economic activity can be addressed and coordinated for social purposes”.