In Québec, the cooperative economy emerged from underserved needs - access to credit and insurance, the marketing of agricultural products, good working conditions — and the desire of a French-speaking people to perpetuate its language in America. In the 1960s, the cooperative economy made its way into social policies, including housing, and allowed for preserving urban neighbourhoods. More recently, the social economy, a more global concept stemming from disparate initiatives, has compensated for the limitations of the State’s redistribution function. Following its consolidation, it includes or exists alongside the cooperative sector and has benefitted from participation by the union movement, groups for the promotion of women, community organizations and university networks, in a broad and inclusive development perspective. The recent adoption of a Social Economy Act marks the State’s recognition of the social economy as an important component of Québec’s economy, on a par with the public and private sectors. The social economy in Québec represents 8% of the GDP.