QCA Calibration Data Base from "First Collaborative Mapping of Social Enterprises in Argentina" database (Mesa IES, 2021)

This study examines how the adopted legal form shape SE´s growth paths, addressing the developmental implications of legal structure that remain underexplored, especially in contexts lacking specific legal frameworks for SE. Conceiving growth as a systemic process integrating organizational expansion and socio-environmental impact, we apply Crisp-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (CsQCA) to 16 Argentine SEs, identifying three equifinal configurations: For-profit SEs grow when profit generation is present, complemented either by critical staffing capacity or by participatory governance. Non-profit SEs grow without staff thresholds, profitability, or stakeholder engagement. These patterns suggest that for-profit SEs may experience balanced growth, whereas non-profit SEs may encounter unbalanced, impact-first trajectories that may heighten vulnerabilities such as mission drift.
The study advances firm growth theory by demonstrating the central role of legal form in hybrid organizations. Practically, it offers guidance to social entrepreneurs and policymakers seeking legal frameworks that facilitate balanced growth, particularly in developing economies where hybrid legal options remain limited.