Conceptual Expansion and Approaches to the Concept of Alternative Economy

Abstract

Researchers have emphasized upon the significance of alternative economy. Inferences from past studies, and the suggestions on the characteristics of alternative economic networks, are manifested in studies concerning multiple disciplines. The present study explores the definitional aspects and the facets of alternative economic networks. The analysis of a wide range of literature, sampled in the present study, employed a disciplined literature discovery process with Max Qualitative Data Analysis software to produce a tabulation of characteristics of “alternative economy”/“community economy”/“social economy.” Furthermore, these characteristics were studied through a statistical content analysis of relevant literature, and an importance-based classification of the characteristics was developed. Principal components analysis was used to distinguish thematic clusters within extant literature. These principal components were used to construct a definition of alternative economy. The present study subsequently analyzed the temporal evolution of the possible characteristics of alternative economy as proposed by scholars. The facets of alternative economy, thus identified, may be utilized for supplementary empirical studies in the context of alternative economic networks.