Solidarity finance and public policies: between the demands and expectations of social participation (San Martín, 2014-2020)

Abstract

This study addresses the case of the Fondo de Financiamiento Solidario (FSS) of the Municipality of San Martín (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), for the period 2014-2020. In particular, it focuses on its components “Production and Services” and “Housing Improvement” and aims to describe and analyses the state intervention strategies linked to the financing of individual and associative initia- tives, considering the types of credit, their geographical distribution, the social subjects involved, and the role of technicians as mediators. The research is based on a methodological triangulation approach using both primary and secondary sources of information. The above analysis raises the question of the emergence of new actors. The mediators intervene to address the problems of socio-labour inser- tion of vulnerable segments of the population. However, their actions confront the limits to create alternative ways of achieving the reproduction of life through solidarity finance, a notion that, as observed here, is in dispute.