ECOFORUM [Volume 5, Issue 2 (9), 2016] 102 Gabriela PRELIPCEAN Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229, Romania gabrielap@seap.usv.ro Anamaria BUCACIUC Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229, Romania bucaciuc_ana@yahoo.com Corneliu Sorin BAICU Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229, Romania baicu_sorin@yahoo.com Abstract Both social economy and informal economy define complex economic phenomena, multifaceted, which generated multiple platform debate and analysis among economists, sociologists and lawyers. Perspectives on these concepts are the most diverse and present work attempts to link these views to find common denominators, but also the elements that differentiate them. Official social economy interacts with the informal economy through the initial use of capital and generating links between different forms of capital. Underground economy is based more on use of illicit and immoral capital, while the development of a formal social require networks of trust, reciprocal links with other groups and institutions, social and economic relations that are based on values and norms recognized by society. The interplay of social economy - informal economy is manifested either through a transition from the sphere of the informal (unofficial) to formal (official) or by maintaining and emphasizing underground activities as a result of using illegal or informal social networks and social capital already existing. From the perspective of this study, social economy-binomial informal economy should be seen as: a) mediating factor between the official and unofficial; b) factor of influence to ensure a legal and institutional framework apt to limit and discourage underground activities; c) factor of transition from the informal economy to the social economy. Key words: social economy, social enterprises, informal economy, transition strategies, connection (interaction) social economy-informal economy JEL Classification: L3, O17 I. I NTRODUCTION The interaction between social economy and informal economy represents a challenge for academia, governments and national and international organizations. Most often the strategies of transition from the informal economy (unofficial) to the formal (official) economy do not reflect the role and importance of social economy, although the interaction between the informal economy and the social economy and its effects are visible. From socio-economic perspective, social economy is linked to the capital and its vectors, social enterprises. Social capital includes both formal social networks and informal social networks, recognized as particularly important in establishing contacts in operationalizing social economy activities. The concept of social capital refers to "rules of conduct" and "values" governing individuals or organizations. People who share similar values and principles are more likely to develop trust and to work in different organizational forms. Social enterprise is intended to respond to social and environmental goals in terms of market data. Through its activities, social enterprises can give people an licit income and employment, develop entrepreneurial skills, provide community services, contributing to social inclusion of minorities and disadvantaged communities, fight against poverty and not ultimately contribute to integration within legal or official economy. Analyzing the underground economy with the same tools: social capital, social enterprise, social pseudo-capital, we believe that the informal sector is governed by flawed norms and values and businesses are disguised as forms of organization structures and organizations illegal, criminal. Given the complex relationship social economy - informal economy, this work falls into the category of conceptual research. Aspects of inductive nature and deductive nature are harmoniously combined in the methodology used. The conceptual aggregation of the research subject is based on the following factors: social economy, informal economy and global economy. In the first part of the work we defined informal economy and social economy. In the second part of the study we pursued the interaction informal-formal and possible adverse effects resulting. SOCIAL ECONOMY AND INFORMAL ECONOMY. INTERACTIONS AND EFFECTS brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Ecoforum Journal (University of Suceava, Romania)