The Growth of Italian Cooperatives
The Growth of Italian Cooperatives

Author: Piero Ammirato

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2018-04-27

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 1351657607

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The Italian Cooperative Sector is amongst the largest in the world comprising over 60,000 cooperatives from all sectors of the economy directly employing 1.3 million people. Cooperatives created close to 30 percent of new jobs in Italy between 2001 and 2011 demonstrating that democratic cooperative enterprises can successfully operate in a market economy combining economic success and social responsibility. These offer a viable alternative to profit maximising enterprises and an opportunity to create a more pluralist and democratic market economy. The Growth of Italian Cooperatives: Innovation, Resilience and Social Responsibility comprehensively explains how the Italian cooperative sector has managed to compete successfully in the global economy and to grow during the global financial crisis. This book will comprehensively explain how the Italian cooperative movement has managed to grow into a large successful network of cooperatives. It will examine the legislative framework and their unique business model that allows it to compete in the market as part of a network that includes central cooperative associations, financial and economic consortia, and financial companies. It will explore cooperative entrepreneurship through a discussion of the formation of cooperative groups, start-ups, worker-buyouts and the promotion of entirely new sectors such as the social services sector. Finally, The Growth of Italian Cooperatives examines how cooperatives have managed the GFC and how their behavior differs from private enterprises. It will also analyze the extent to which cooperatives compete while still uphold the key cooperative principles and fulfil their social responsibility. This book is an interdisciplinary study of cooperative development and is designed to inform members of the academic community, government, public policy makers and cooperative managers that are primarily interested in economic democracy, economics of the cooperative enterprise, cooperative networks and economic development, cooperative legislation, democratic governance, job creation programs, politics of inclusion and how wealth can be more equitably distributed.

Cooperative Enterprises
Cooperative Enterprises

Author: Piero Ammirato

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-03-25

Total Pages: 410

ISBN-13: 1040004652

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Cooperative Enterprises is the first textbook to examine the evolution of the cooperative enterprise model and the contribution that cooperatives can make to the economy and society. It provides an accessible overview of the subject, looking at history, cooperative models, theories, legislation, and governance. Cooperative Enterprises takes an international approach throughout, drawing on examples from cooperatives from across the globe. The book offers a valuable historical perspective, placing cooperatives within their political, social, cultural, and economic contexts since the Industrial Revolution. It analyses and compares the cooperative law of 26 jurisdictions and showcases key defining moments for cooperative enterprises, cooperative development models, cooperative‐specific good practice standards, and compares the cooperative model with the private enterprise model, giving readers a comprehensive view of the subject. The book also demonstrates that cooperatives correct the market, complement the role of the state, support local economic development, reduce income and wealth inequalities, promote social cohesion, and promote economic democracy. Students are supported with a range of pedagogical features, including case studies, tables, figures, chapter summaries, and discussion questions to encourage critical thinking. This is the ideal textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on cooperative studies, and will also be an illuminating resource for students, researchers, and policymakers interested in social enterprise, business history, economic history, corporate governance, economic democracy, and community development.

The Italian Social Cooperatives in 2008
The Italian Social Cooperatives in 2008

Author: Chiara Carini

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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This paper describes the role of social cooperatives in Italy as a type of economic, nonprofit organization that is assuming an increasingly central role in the country, by contributing to its economic and social growth. In the last decade many agencies, institutions and research centres (Istat - National Statistic Office, Ministry of Economic Development, Confcooperative Legacoop, Unioncamere) have provided studies on the evolution of the cooperative movement in the Third Sector, in order to monitor the development of these organizations over time and to evaluate their economic and employment impact over the country. Following a similar path, this study analyzes the contribution of social cooperatives in Italy at a regional level, highlighting the differences related to their age and fields of activity. Moreover, the paper evaluates the efficiency and profitability of the social cooperative by conducting further analysis based on a number of economic and financial indexes.

La Lega
La Lega

Author: Piero Ammirato

Publisher: Dartmouth Publishing Group

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 392

ISBN-13:

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This volume represents the first in-depth study in the English language of the Italian cooperative movement - the largest in Europe with over 70,000 active cooperatives. In the region of Emilia Romagna alone they produce close to 25% of the regional GDP. In particular, he examines the history, the values, the strategy, organisational structure and culture of La Lega (The National League of Cooperatives) which associates 11,000 cooperatives from all sectors employing 220,000 people and as a group of enterprises have become Italy's fourth largest export earner. It is the sheer size and success of these cooperatives that provides practical proof that there is an alternative to private enterprise capitalism namely democratic, collectively owned cooperatives.The main aim of this book is to identify the factors which have enabled cooperatives in Italy to overcome some of the economic and political barriers normally faced by them when competing in Western market economies through an analysis of the relationship that has developed between cooperatives, La Lega and the State.Topics discussed include: an historical overview of cooperative development in Europe and North America; a comparative study of the cooperative sectors in Britain and Mondragon; a discussion on the political and economic barriers faced by cooperatives; an historical analysis of cooperative development in Italy; an explanation of how La Lega operates and how it represents cooperatives' interests in the economic, political and social sphere; original case studies of cooperatives and consortia explain how financial, management and other barriers have been overcome; and, finally, an extensive discussion on the specific character of the Italian State and an explanation of why and when the State is most likely to support cooperatives.

The Environmental Consequences of Growth
The Environmental Consequences of Growth

Author: Douglas Booth

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2006-06-28

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 1134700172

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This book presents a new perspective on the link between economic growth and environmental change. All the key issues in environmental economics are covered, including: * industry, creation and environmental change * air, water and toxic pollution * economic growth and the limits of environmental regulation * ethics and the limits of environmental economics. The central thesis is that whilst new industries are necessary for economic growth, their development creates new environmental problems which become difficult to reverse. An alternative approach, 'steady-state economics', based on the concept of ethical commitment, is put forward as a possible alternative to a high-growth, environmentally destructive economy. Providing a welcome alternative to conventional, neoclassical microeconomic thought on environmental issues, this will be vital reading for students of environmental economics and related subjects.

Cooperatives and the World of Work
Cooperatives and the World of Work

Author: Bruno Roelants

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-07-16

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 1000012077

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As the world of work and jobs is more uncertain than ever because of various trends impacting it, including the rise of robotics and the gig economy, Cooperatives and the World of Work furthers the debate on the future of work, sustainable development, and the social and solidarity economy of which cooperatives are a fundamental component. Throughout the book, the authors, who are experts in their respective fields, do not limit themselves to praising the advantages of the cooperative model. Rather, they challenge the narrow understanding of cooperatives as a mere business model and raise debate on the more fundamental role that cooperatives play in responding to social changes and in changing society itself. The book is unique in tracing the historical connection between cooperatives and the world of work since the end of the First World War and the recent shifts and restructuring in enterprise and the workplace. It presents a redefinition of the very concept of work, focusing on organizational innovation. This book is published in recognition of 100 years of the International Labour Organization, and gathers together research from leading experts who were brought together at an event co-hosted by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Modernization and Accountability in the Social Economy Sector
Modernization and Accountability in the Social Economy Sector

Author: Ferreira, Augusta

Publisher: IGI Global

Published: 2019-05-31

Total Pages: 351

ISBN-13: 1522584838

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The social economy sector (SES) faces pressures for greater accountability to their funders, users, and citizens, and a growing need to report good practices in the social, economic, and financial impact that they have on the community. However, these entities often face difficulties related to the lack of an accounting framework that allows them to properly disseminate the results of their activities. Thus, practices that involve financial reporting and an assessment of their social, economic, and financial impact are needed to improve their accountability, sustainability, and operational performance. Modernization and Accountability in the Social Economy Sector is an essential reference source that discusses future avenues of development for the management of SES entities, accounting, control in SES management, and measures of performance in the SES. Featuring research on topics such as online communication, social accounting, and value reporting, this book is ideal for managers, financial consultants, academicians, researchers, and students interested in accounting, management, internal control, auditing, and technology use in the SES.