Abstract
The aim of the article is to locate the issue of a social enterprise in the
theory on how companies operate, with particular emphasis on the theory of
a konfirma [a blend ‘con-firm’, coined of ‘consumer’ and ‘firm’], as well as to
present a summary of the results of empirical research into social enterprises
with a modified concept of the author’s theory of a konfirma.
The starting point for this paper is the issue of humanization of the economic
theory and empirical economic research methodology. A category of
a social enterprise in the economy has been distinguished and its functions,
classification and legislative attempts to regulate it have been presented.
A social enterprise has been located in the theories of the firm that are
discussed in contemporary literature. The theory of a konfirma is the main
part of the theory of the firm identified with a social enterprise. The author
has modified his theory of a konfirma for the need of including it in the category
of a social enterprise. To verify the theoretical assumptions, they have
been confronted with the results of empirical research into social enterprises.