Cooperatives are businesses owned by “member-owners”. Co-ops are democratically controlled by their member-owners, and unlike a traditional business each member gets a voice in how the business is run. Services or goods provided by the co-op benefit and serve the member owners..
Common examples of cooperatives include agricultural cooperatives, electric cooperatives, retail cooperatives, housing cooperatives and credit unions.
Cooperatives are businesses owned and con- trolled by the people who use them. Coopera- tives differ from other businesses because they are member owned and operate for the benefit of members, rather than earn profits for investors. Like other businesses, most coopera- tives are incorporated under State law.
The organizational structure of a cooperative is based on demo- cratic principles. As owners of the business, the members are the decision makers. Members control their cooperative through a Board of Directors that they elect from among themselves.
Cooperative societies are formed with the aim of helping their members. This type of business organisation is formed mainly by weaker sections of the society in order to prevent any type of exploitation from the economically stronger sections of the society.
Cooperative societies are formed with the aim of helping their members. This type of business organisation is formed mainly by weaker sections of the society in order to prevent any type of exploitation from the economically stronger sections of the society.
Cooperative society business organisation
Cooperatives Europe is the European regional office of the International Co-operative Alliance and acts for cooperative enterprises in Europe. Representing 83 member organisations from 33 European countries, across all business sectors. Cooperatives Europe promotes the cooperative business model in Europe and advocates for a level playing field between cooperatives and other forms of enterprise. Its members represent 123 million individual member cooperators owning 160.000 cooperative enterprises and providing jobs to 5.4 million European citizens.
Federation representing cooperatives and the worldwide cooperative movement
The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a non-governmental cooperative organization founded in 1895 to unite, represent and serve cooperatives worldwide. The ICA is the custodian of the internationally recognised definition, values and principles of a cooperative in the ICA Statement on the Cooperative Identity. The ICA represents 315 co-operative federation and organisations in 107 countries.
Cooperative promoter, credit provider
The Irish Agricultural Organisation Society (IAOS) was an agricultural association in Ireland which advocated, and helped to organise, agricultural cooperativism, including mutual credit facilities. From its establishment by Sir Horace Plunkett in 1894, it quickly became an important element of the Irish economy and laid the foundations of the successful Irish dairy industry.
