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Are worker-owned cooperatives the brewing pots for social capital?

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  • Wilson Majee
  • Ann Hoyt

Abstract

Worker-owned cooperatives, through open membership and democratic local ownership of the enterprise, are believed to provide a platform on which participation of local people in both social and economic activities can be enhanced. This paper explores the social capital creation processes of a worker-owned homecare cooperative. Data were collected through interviews, survey and document review and thematically analyzed. The study observed that frequent interaction among cooperative worker-owners improves participation and fosters network building among worker-owners and between them, their clients and professionals. This leads to increased self confidence, better business and relational skills, and optimism, which in turn, increases participation in business and societal activities. Interaction with professionals and other workers was observed to connect cooperative members with other individuals and resources outside the cooperative. This leads to growing self, business and community confidence, which, in turn, improves negotiation skills, and yields more civic engagement.

Suggested Citation

  • Wilson Majee & Ann Hoyt, 2010. "Are worker-owned cooperatives the brewing pots for social capital?," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(4), pages 417-430, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:comdev:v:41:y:2010:i:4:p:417-430
    DOI: 10.1080/15575330.2010.488741
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ramon Casadesus-Masanell & Tarun Khanna, 2003. "Globalization and Trust: Theory and Evidence from Cooperatives," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series wp592, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giuseppe Terzo, 2022. "Investigating the link between social cooperation sector and economic well‐being of Italian provinces through the lens of social capital," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(4), pages 1041-1062, December.
    2. Snider, Anna & Gutiérrez, Isabel & Sibelet, Nicole & Faure, Guy, 2017. "Small farmer cooperatives and voluntary coffee certifications: Rewarding progressive farmers of engendering widespread change in Costa Rica?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 231-242.
    3. Jackie Stein, 2015. "The Impacts of Worktime Control in Context," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, April.
    4. Elder, Sara D. & Zerriffi, Hisham & Le Billon, Philippe, 2012. "Effects of Fair Trade Certification on Social Capital: The Case of Rwandan Coffee Producers," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(11), pages 2355-2367.
    5. Anastasia A. Seferiadis & Sarah Cummings & Marjolein B.M. Zweekhorst & Joske F.G. Bunders, 2015. "Producing social capital as a development strategy: Implications at the micro-level," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 15(2), pages 170-185, April.
    6. Figueiredo, Vítor & Franco, Mário, 2018. "Wine cooperatives as a form of social entrepreneurship: Empirical evidence about their impact on society," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 812-821.
    7. Giuseppe Terzo, 2021. "Social capital, social economy and economic resilience of Italian provinces," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(5), pages 1113-1135, October.
    8. Morrow, J.L., Jr. & Joyce, Richard Patrick, III & McMahon, William J. & DeMaia, Antonio M. & McVicker, S. Caleb & Parsons, Ashley E. & Wilcox, Kristin, 2017. "Cooperation among Ugandan farmers: cultivating social capital," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 20(5).
    9. Isabel Saz-Gil & Ignacio Bretos & Millán Díaz-Foncea, 2021. "Cooperatives and Social Capital: A Narrative Literature Review and Directions for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.

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