A project led by Paul Aligica at the University of Budapest aims to examine and articulate the often-overlooked role of the “third sector” (i.e., civil society/non-profit/voluntary sector) in fostering societal resilience and economic performance.

In mainstream literature, the third sector is often viewed as an inconsequential driver of economic development. This research aims to challenge that assumption and will follow Eleanor Ostrom's Bloomington School of Institutional Analysis to develop a different conceptualization of the social and economic mechanisms and institutional structures that contribute to economic performance.

Romania serves as the primary empirical setting, offering a salient case study in a country that has experienced significant social, economic, and political shocks, including the post-communist transition, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing impact of regional geopolitical instability. The project aims to generate insights that can be applied to other regions facing similar challenges, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region.

The research utilizes a mixed-methods approach through two investigative modules. The first focuses on developing a national resilience assessment instrument, using survey data to evaluate the role of individual, family, and community resilience in responding to crises and driving entrepreneurial initiatives. The second is a qualitative case study of Romania’s public healthcare system, examining how non-market entrepreneurs can enhance community resilience and institutional performance.

The study seeks to provide empirical evidence on the contributions of civil society and non-market entrepreneurship to resilience. It hypothesizes that this capacity is shaped by the regulatory and institutional environment, which can either enable or constrain effective responses. Results will be shared through academic articles, policy papers, and conferences. The team also plans to create and validate a national resilience assessment instrument which will improve the way in which resilience metrics are conceptualized and used at the practical level.