This paper describes the role of social enterprises and social cooperatives as a type of nonprofit economic organization that is assuming an increasingly central role in Europe (as demonstrated, for example, by the Social Business Initiative recently launched by the European Commission), contributing to its economic and social growth. Read More
Using a stochastic frontier approach, in this paper we analyze the imposition of financial sustainability requirements on the traditional social mission of microfinance--reaching out to the poor. In addition, we ask whether the way ownership is organized and practiced affects the costs of microfinance delivery. Read More
Using a variety of sources, this paper reconstructs the size and proposes an analysis of the economic function of Italian agricultural cooperation, including through a comparison with corporations and with a specific focus on the wine sector. Read More
To address the lack of clarity around the concept of community cooperatives this paper aims to develop a definition consistent with its evolution and the classification of cooperatives we have identified. Read More
Are cooperative banks at a turning point? Many changes that have occurred in the last years in the economic and social framework make this question quite actual. Read More
PRESS RELEASEFrom Co-operative News article released on 05 November 2013The world’s top 300 co-operatives have continued to grow, achieving an overall turnover of USD $2,097 billion in 2011. The results of the survey confirm an increase from 2010, when the world’s top 300 co-operatives, distributed in 24 countries, had a turnover of USD $1,975 billion. Read More
PRESS RELEASEOctober 10, 2013A new site for promoting the database, with innovations including journalistic reports, analyses and case studiesOffical launch will be at the International conference in Cape Town Read More
The World Co-operative Monitor is a project designed to develop a ranking of the biggest co-operatives and mutual organizations worldwide based not only on turnover but also on social value. Read More
Building on evidence from the literature, the paper systematises and highlights some of the potential problems in the governance of cooperative firms concerning the accomplishment of cooperative mutualistic aims. In exploring the internal conditions that may affect cooperative performance, we focus in particular on the role of rules and incentives towards such aims. Read More
This work, based on a qualitative survey regarding a representative sample of 1,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, sought to identify the degree of entrepreneurs' knowledge about the Small Business Act (SBA) and recent industrial policy measures, as well as to analyze their most recent economic performance and the main competitiveness factors, both internal and external. Read More
By developing a multiple factor analysis (MFA), this paper aims at deepening the understanding of the economic performance and the employment features of social cooperatives in 2008 (before the crisis) and 2011 (after the beginning of the crisis) in order to better understand how the employment and economic performances of such organisations have changed during the years of the economic crisis. Read More
The study focused on describing and analysing the integrated approach to agricultural cooperative marketing in Uganda: the tripartite cooperative model. It was found that structural changes and successful growth have been achieved within the agricultural cooperative marketing system. Read More