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Cooperative case studies from three countries: Is membership a problem or a solution in the 21st century?

Author

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  • Zsuzsanna Kispál-Vitai

    (Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Pécs, Hungary)

  • Yann Regnard

    (Laboratoire d’Economie et de Gestion de l’Ouest, University of Western Brittany, France)

  • Klara Kövesi

    (Department of Human and Social Sciences, ENSTA Bretagne, France)

  • Claude-André Guillotte

    (Institut de recherche et d’éducation pour les coopératives et les mutuelles (IRECUS), Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada)

Abstract

The operations of the cooperative organization are an actively debated issue. The efficiency and viability of this organizational form still pose many unanswered questions. The literature is not unequivocal in evaluating the merits and drawbacks of this organization. This article provides empirical evidence from research about cooperatives covering three countries (Canada, France and Hungary) and tests theoretical hypotheses in the framework of organizational economics and cooperative theory. The findings point towards the positive influence of the social environment and cooperative values on organizational choice. The results prove the continued relevance of this type of organization in the 21st century in agriculture in all three researched countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Zsuzsanna Kispál-Vitai & Yann Regnard & Klara Kövesi & Claude-André Guillotte, 2019. "Cooperative case studies from three countries: Is membership a problem or a solution in the 21st century?," Society and Economy, Akadémiai Kiadó, Hungary, vol. 41(4), pages 467-485, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aka:soceco:v:41:y:2019:i:4:p:467-485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Torgerson, Randall E. & Reynolds, Bruce J. & Gray, Thomas W., 1998. "Evolution of Cooperative Thought, Theory, and Purpose," Journal of Cooperatives, NCERA-210, vol. 13, pages 1-20.
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    Cited by:

    1. Malgorzata Blazejowska, 2021. "Economic Efficiency of Polish Social Cooperatives Operating in Tourism and Event," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 4), pages 734-748.
    2. Jolanta Droždz & Vlada Vitunskienė & Lina Novickytė, 2021. "Profile of the Small-Scale Farms Willing to Cooperate—Evidence from Lithuania," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cooperatives; case study research; social influence; values;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness
    • L0 - Industrial Organization - - General

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