The Cooperative Solution
Toward a Just Economy
Published on 4. November 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
110 pages
978-0-7618-5284-1 (ISBN)
Description
All over the world, poverty is gradually giving way to cooperative economic activity. At the same time, there are signs that standard competitive "free" markets are failing.
Empirical evidence shows that cooperation works better than competition and that cooperatives succeed more often than standard corporations. Assumptions underlying the competitive system are that competition results in equity for all and that poverty can be eliminated through the market. These assumptions simply are not true. On the contrary, the rich get richer; the poor, poorer.
Cooperatives, where each member holds one share and one vote, are more democratic than hierarchical corporations. Poverty is actually eliminated through a combination of microfinance and cooperation. Examples include Muhammed Yunus' Grameen Bank, Indonesia's People's Bank, and the cooperative adventure of Mondragon in Spain.
These examples provide a vision of true globalization from below, a vision of a just and sustainable world. The "how-to" is right here.
Empirical evidence shows that cooperation works better than competition and that cooperatives succeed more often than standard corporations. Assumptions underlying the competitive system are that competition results in equity for all and that poverty can be eliminated through the market. These assumptions simply are not true. On the contrary, the rich get richer; the poor, poorer.
Cooperatives, where each member holds one share and one vote, are more democratic than hierarchical corporations. Poverty is actually eliminated through a combination of microfinance and cooperation. Examples include Muhammed Yunus' Grameen Bank, Indonesia's People's Bank, and the cooperative adventure of Mondragon in Spain.
These examples provide a vision of true globalization from below, a vision of a just and sustainable world. The "how-to" is right here.
Reviews / Votes
Richard Williams discusses the potential benefits of cooperative behavior in a manner that shows the potential benefits individuals can gain in some settings by engaging cooperatively with others. It is important that we re-introduce a deep understanding of cooperation as one of the core foundations for achieving higher returns. An excellent book for all of us to read. -- Elinor Ostrom, Indiana University, author of Governing the Commons, Nobel Prize in Economics, 2009 Richard Williams makes an important contribution with this book. It is a good time for us to think about cooperation, as we see clearly today the disasters brought about by the "market economy" and its cutthroat competition, its corruption, it emphasis on profit over people. This book is thoughtful and practical, and I hope it will be widely read. -- Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States and professor emeritus of Political Science, Boston UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Lanham, MD
United States
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 6 mm
Weight
175 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7618-5284-1 (9780761852841)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Richard C. Williams, socio-economist with a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, is currently on the faculty of The College for Professional Studies at Regis University in Denver. His publications include The Cooperative Movement, a widely-used textbook, and he lives with his wife, Gretchen, in Boulder, Colorado.
Content
Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 Preface
Chapter 3 Acknowledgements
Chapter 4 Chapter 1 Why Cooperate?
Chapter 5 Chapter 2 What Is a Cooperative
Chapter 6 Chapter 3 Cooperatives around the World
Chapter 7 Chapter 4 Care and Feeding of Cooperatives: A Tale of Two Co-ops
Chapter 8 Chapter 5 The How-to of Cooperation
Chapter 9 Appendix A Interview Protocol and Analysis
Chapter 10 Appendix B Measuring Effect Size
Chapter 11 Index
Chapter 12 About the Author
Chapter 2 Preface
Chapter 3 Acknowledgements
Chapter 4 Chapter 1 Why Cooperate?
Chapter 5 Chapter 2 What Is a Cooperative
Chapter 6 Chapter 3 Cooperatives around the World
Chapter 7 Chapter 4 Care and Feeding of Cooperatives: A Tale of Two Co-ops
Chapter 8 Chapter 5 The How-to of Cooperation
Chapter 9 Appendix A Interview Protocol and Analysis
Chapter 10 Appendix B Measuring Effect Size
Chapter 11 Index
Chapter 12 About the Author