Revisiting the political-social dimension of public value

Public value research increasingly recognizes that societal value is generated by public, private, philanthropic, and hybrid actors. However, empirical tools for identifying public value beyond the state remain underdeveloped, particularly regarding its political-social dimension. This study operationalizes this dimension by identifying and analytically defining eight constituent elements. It draws on a multiple case study of three Brazilian social enterprises, combining document analysis, field visits, and semi-structured interviews. Findings clarify the dimension’s components and demonstrate how they can be identified in organizational practices and relationships. The study advances empirical approaches to public value and extends research to non-state actors in a non-European context.