This paper, through data from the Census of Industry and Services and key employment statistics, will attempt to identify the territorial and/or sectoral areas most exposed to the fragilities that the crisis has highlighted, in order to analyze, precisely in these areas, the role and innovati va capacity of the nonprofit sector. Read More
The macroeconomic impact of bank misconduct has deterred users of financial services from using the system, to the detriment of market integrity, and has prompted policymakers and supervisors to turn to "culture" as a tool to regain public trust. This paper addresses the definitional deficit on what "culture" is by exploring the illustrative case of cooperative banks. Read More
This study explores the dimensions of the social economy in Italy in terms of organizations, employment and revenues, taking into account the market/non-market orientation of organizations. Read More
The objective of this report is to delve into the behavior of cooperatives compared to joint stock companies during the economic crisis, extending the analysis to 2013 and comparing limited liability companies as well. Read More
The objective of this report is to analyze the behavior of cooperatives compared to other forms of enterprises during the economic crisis, including considering the pre-crisis period and identifying the factors influencing this diversity of behavior. Read More
Second Euricse report – executive summary by Carlo BorzagaAs the economic crisis continues, it is becoming increasingly evident that in order to identify strategies to put Italy back on a path of economic growth it is necessary to carefully evaluate the potential contributions of every sector, every public and private institution, and from all types of enterprises including cooperatives and social enterprises. Recent census data from The National Institute for Statistics (Istat) shows a great diversification of enterprise forms in Italy over the decade from 2001 to 2011, with cooperative enterprises and, more generally, not-for-profit organizations growing at a faster rate than other types of businesses, either public or private. Consequently, understanding the existence and characteristics of cooperative enterprises should no longer be considered of interest solely to a limited number of scholars or representative organizations of the cooperative movement. Rather, this type of research now has broader implications and should be undertaken with renewed commitment. Read More
This volume is published in collaboration with Area Studi Confcooperative and Centro Studi Legacoop. It portrays the Italian cooperation sector during the period 2008- 2011 and it provides a comparison with other forms of enterprises and several in-depht analysis of the different economic sectors. Read More
This research, conducted using the traditional method of financial statement indices, concerns the economic and financial performance achieved in the years 2009-2011 by 30 worker cooperatives in the service sector. The cooperatives investigated are medium-sized (turnover 30-50 million euros) and large (turnover over 50 million euros). The results obtained support the thesis that cooperatives exhibit strong resilience in the face of the economic crisis. Read More
The text deals with two opposing economic visions: the financial one in which only the growth of capital matters, and the cooperative one in which finding a balance between multiple dimensions, including social and environmental ones, matters. Read More
In recent years various scholars and representatives of important institutions have sustained that cooperatives have responded better to the crisis than other forms of enterprises. The resiliency of the cooperative model has been interpreted as the consequence of their different nature, in particular their orientation towards the satisfaction of a need rather than the distribution of profits. This particularity, it is suggested, pushes cooperatives to maintain production levels even under conditions of reduced or negative revenue. Read More
This paper assesses the model employed by argan oil cooperatives in southwest Morocco. Female-based cooperatives have been supported by donor organizations and development practitioners to promote environmental conservation of argan forests, foster social equity in the patriarchal society, and improve the local economy. Read More
With the crisis of laissez-faire philosophy and practices, cooperation has rediscovered its relevance and, at the same time, its diversity. The case of Trentino, an Italian region with an important history of cooperatives, can serve as a starting point to introduce a reflection on the challenges we face today. Read More