Webinar: Creating a better world: The Socio-Economic impact of co-operatives and mutuals globally
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Date
2012-11-15
Authors
Lafleur, Michel
Merrien, Anne-Marie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network
Abstract
Description
(Use youtube link above for recording of webinar) This webinar showcases a new research report co-authored by Michel Lafleur and Anne-Marie Merrien of the Institut de recherche et d'éducation pour les coopératives et les mutuelles de l'Université de Sherbrooke (IRECUS) that explores the impact of the largest 300 co-operatives worldwide. This webinar will provide an overview of the key findings of this report and provide participants an opportunity to ask questions about the impacts of co-operatives.
This study explores two main questions:
How do co-operatives and mutual contribute to building a better world?
What is their socio-economic impact?
If they were a country, the 300 largest cooperatives and mutuals would be the 9th largest world economy and the largest democracy in the world. The study shows that cooperatives and mutuals participate in economic, political and social stability and regulation. Effectively, they survive better to crises than other businesses, they take care of their members in times of struggle or natural disaster (for example, after tsunami in Japan) and because they have a significant influence on the market (4 out of 10 largest dairy transformation businesses are cooperatives). They accomplish that while providing almost 4 million jobs in the world.