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Why Farmers Involve Themselves In Co‐Operative District Councils

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  • Chrysoula MORFI
  • Jerker NILSSON
  • Hanna ÖSTERBERG

Abstract

This study finds that selective incentives induce district council members and chairpersons to work for the collective best of a co‐operative membership. Being the lowest echelon of a co‐operative's internal governance hierarchy, district councils constitute a link between the membership and the board of directors. Previous research indicates that district council members are often driven by a co‐operative conviction and social concerns. The present study challenges this view. On the basis of a survey of all 191 district council members and council chairpersons of a large Swedish agricultural co‐operative, it is found that the elected representatives rank low in terms of co‐operative conviction and social concerns. They involve themselves mainly in order to get personal benefits; they want to gain access to information, mature personally and obtain inputs to develop their farm enterprises. The financial compensation is of limited importance.

Suggested Citation

  • Chrysoula MORFI & Jerker NILSSON & Hanna ÖSTERBERG, 2018. "Why Farmers Involve Themselves In Co‐Operative District Councils," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 89(4), pages 581-598, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:annpce:v:89:y:2018:i:4:p:581-598
    DOI: 10.1111/apce.12206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mercy Mwambi & Jos Bijman & Patience Mshenga, 2020. "Which type of producer organization is (more) inclusive? Dynamics of farmers’ membership and participation in the decision‐making process," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 91(2), pages 213-236, June.
    2. Gea D.M. Wijers, 2019. "A comparison of cooperative ecosystems: what institutions can bring transformation?," Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, Pro Global Science Association, vol. 18(2), pages 146-159, December.
    3. Nilsson, Jerker, 2024. "Differentiated voting and membership composition – the case of a large Swedish dairy cooperative," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 15(02), June.
    4. Jos BIJMAN & Markus HANISCH, 2020. "Understanding the heterogeneity among agricultural cooperatives," CIRIEC Working Papers 2013, CIRIEC - Université de Liège.
    5. Chrysoula Morfi & Jerker Nilsson & Karin Hakelius & Kostas Karantininis, 2021. "Social networks and member participation in cooperative governance," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(2), pages 264-285, April.
    6. Marcelo Ferreira & Clea Macagnan & Daniel Vancin & Ana Toaldo, 2021. "Technical assistance: A determinant of cooperative member loyalty," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 92(4), pages 649-668, December.
    7. Wei Yang & Le Wang, 2023. "Impact of farmer group participation on the adoption of sustainable farming practices—spatial analysis of New Zealand dairy farmers," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(3), pages 701-717, September.

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