64 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
64 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
A **cooperative** (also known as **co-operative**, **co-op**, or
|
|
**coop**) is defined by the
|
|
[ICA](International_Co-operative_Alliance "wikilink") "an autonomous
|
|
association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic,
|
|
social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and
|
|
democratically-controlled enterprise"\[1\] and are a subject of great
|
|
interest to [libertarian socialists](Libertarian_Socialism "wikilink").
|
|
They are an excellent way to provide high paying jobs, low-cost housing
|
|
and low-cost consumer goods to people under a
|
|
[capitalist](Capitalism "wikilink") economy while also showing people
|
|
the viability of a socialist economy.
|
|
|
|
## Types of Cooperatives
|
|
|
|
### Worker Cooperative
|
|
|
|
A [worker cooperative](Worker_Cooperative "wikilink") is a business
|
|
which employs [self-management in the
|
|
workplace](Workers'_Self-Management "wikilink") to produce goods or
|
|
provide services. Workers own the business and are paid either equally
|
|
based on the workplaces profits and management of the business is either
|
|
done in [workers' assemblies](Democratic_Assembly "wikilink") or via
|
|
elected managers.
|
|
|
|
### Housing Cooperative
|
|
|
|
A [housing cooperative](Housing_Cooperative "wikilink") is a cooperative
|
|
that owns real estate and/or buildings, thus allowing tenants to manage
|
|
a large building without the existence of a
|
|
[landlord](landlord "wikilink") (thus reducing rents and increasing the
|
|
quality of housing).
|
|
|
|
### Consumer Cooperative
|
|
|
|
A [consumer cooperative](Consumer_Cooperative "wikilink") is a
|
|
cooperative that provides people with access to consumer goods and
|
|
services like electricity, water, clothing, food, tools and machinery.
|
|
|
|
### Financial Cooperative
|
|
|
|
A [financial cooperative](Financial_Cooperative "wikilink") is a
|
|
cooperative that provides insurance, low-interest loans, savings and
|
|
other financial services to people.
|
|
|
|
### Social Cooperative
|
|
|
|
### Cooperative Federations
|
|
|
|
## History
|
|
|
|
## Cooperatives by State/Country
|
|
|
|
## Research on Cooperatives
|
|
|
|
## Criticism
|
|
|
|
## References
|
|
|
|
<references />
|
|
|
|
1. "Statement on the Cooperative Identity" at the [International
|
|
Co-operative
|
|
Alliance](International_Co-operative_Alliance "wikilink") -
|
|
<https://www.ica.coop/en/cooperatives/cooperative-identity> |