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Moral and managerial perspectives on cooperatives: Towards a Luhmannian reconciliation

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  • Valentinov, Vladislav
  • Iliopoulos, Constantine

Abstract

The recent literature on cooperatives includes two distinct and partly conflicting strands. The moral strand emphasizes cooperatives as a sustainable alternative to shareholder capitalism, while the managerial one problematizes the maintenance organizational costs that must be incurred by these organizations. To reconcile the disparity between these strands, we develop a Luhmannian view of how cooperatives navigate the precarious relationship between the economic function system and the societal environment. On this basis, we show that the maintenance organizational costs plaguing many cooperatives are indicative of an imperfect business case for providing a sustainable alternative to shareholder capitalism. Consequently, we view these costs as a reflection of the heightened managerial challenges involved in pursuing elevated moral objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentinov, Vladislav & Iliopoulos, Constantine, 2025. "Moral and managerial perspectives on cooperatives: Towards a Luhmannian reconciliation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 42(2), pages 411-422.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:314369
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.3012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vladislav Valentinov & Constantine Iliopoulos, 2021. "Social capital in cooperatives: an evolutionary Luhmannian perspective," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 1317-1331, September.
    2. Spencer Thompson & Vladislav Valentinov, 2017. "The neglect of society in the theory of the firm: a systems-theory perspective," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 41(4), pages 1061-1085.
    3. Kenkel, Phil, 2015. "Profit Distribution Alternatives for Agricultural Cooperatives," Journal of Cooperatives, NCERA-210, vol. 30, pages 1-23.
    4. Michael L. Cook & Constantine Iliopoulos, 2000. "Ill-defined property rights in collective action: the case of US agricultural cooperatives," Chapters, in: Claude Ménard (ed.), Institutions, Contracts and Organizations, chapter 22, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Hogeland, Julie A., 2007. "An Interpretation of the Competitive Yardstick Model Using Critical Discourse Analysis," Journal of Cooperatives, NCERA-210, vol. 20, pages 1-17.
    6. Hogeland, Julie A., 2004. "How Culture Drives Economic Behavior in Cooperatives," Journal of Rural Cooperation, Hebrew University, Center for Agricultural Economic Research, vol. 32(01), pages 1-18.
    7. Valentinov, Vladislav & Iliopoulos, Constantine, 2021. "Social capital in cooperatives: An evolutionary Luhmannian perspective," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 31(4), pages 1317-1331.
    8. Mooney, Patrick & Gray, Thomas W., 2002. "Cooperative Conversion and Restructuring in Theory and Practice," Research Reports 280024, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.
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