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Cooperative longevity: Why are so many cooperatives so successful?

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  • Iliopoulos, Constantine
  • Valentinov, Vladislav

Abstract

Despite popular misconceptions, cooperatives present a very successful organizational form worldwide. A recent study found that in the U.S., for example, 134 agricultural cooperatives celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2014. This observation on cooperative longevity is not matched by a corresponding research effort on what makes cooperatives so successful. Most of the extant research seems to focus on intra-cooperative problems that posit significant challenges to cooperatives. This special issue of Sustainability bridges the considerable gap between scholarly work and reality. By focusing on what makes cooperatives so successful for such a long period of time, this issue sheds light on key aspects of cooperative longevity. Bridging social capital, fundamental solutions to excessive heterogeneity-induced high ownership costs, tinkering, cooperative genius, and superior capacity to adapt to shocks and changes are among the factors identified to explain extended cooperative longevity. The insights thereby gained are useful to students of cooperatives, practitioners, and policy makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Iliopoulos, Constantine & Valentinov, Vladislav, 2018. "Cooperative longevity: Why are so many cooperatives so successful?," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 10(10), pages 1-8.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:183197
    DOI: 10.3390/su10103449
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    8. Aleksandra Chlebicka & Michał Pietrzak, 2018. "Size of Membership and Survival Patterns of Producers’ Organizations in Agriculture—Social Aspects Based on Evidence from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-24, July.
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    11. Cynthia Giagnocavo & Emilio Galdeano-Gómez & Juan Carlos Pérez-Mesa, 2018. "Cooperative Longevity and Sustainable Development in a Family Farming System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, June.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Nazik Beishenaly & Frédéric Dufays, 2023. "Entrepreneurial ecosystem for cooperatives: The case of Kyrgyz agricultural cooperatives," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(4), pages 1173-1198, December.
    4. Donald M. Houessou & Ben G. J. S. Sonneveld & Augustin K. N. Aoudji & Frejus S. Thoto & Smith A. R. Dossou & Denyse J. R. M. Snelder & Anselme A. Adegbidi & Tjard De Cock Buning, 2019. "How to Transition from Cooperations to Cooperatives: A Case Study of the Factors Impacting the Organization of Urban Gardeners in Benin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Yi Qin & Jiawen He & Miao Wei & Xixi Du, 2022. "Challenges Threatening Agricultural Sustainability in Central Asia: Status and Prospect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    6. Gerhard Fink & Steven Wallis, 2022. "Understanding and avoiding negative consequences of value‐based laws, policies and programmes," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(1), pages 21-29, January.
    7. Niyazmetov, Davron & Soliev, Ilkhom & Theesfeld, Insa, 2021. "Ordered to volunteer? Institutional compatibility assessment of establishing agricultural cooperatives in Uzbekistan," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    8. Yi Qu & Jing Zhang & Zhenning Wang & Xinning Ma & Guangcheng Wei & Xiangzhi Kong, 2023. "The Future of Agriculture: Obstacles and Improvement Measures for Chinese Cooperatives to Achieve Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.
    9. Samal Kaliyeva & Francisco Jose Areal & Yiorgos Gadanakis, 2021. "Would Kazakh Citizens Support a Milk Co-Operative System?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-19, July.
    10. Juan Ramón Ferrer & María‐Carmen García‐Cortijo & Juan‐Sebastián Castillo Valero & Vicente Pinilla & Raúl Serrano, 2024. "Cooperatives and sustainability drivers in the Spanish wine sector. What differences do we find with investor owner firms?," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 505-526, June.

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