Book Chapter

Credit Co-operatives in Serbia: Retrospect and Prospect

Details

Citation

Simmons R & Nikolic M (2016) Credit Co-operatives in Serbia: Retrospect and Prospect. In: Karafolas S (ed.) Credit Cooperative Institutions in European Countries. Contributions to Economics. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 379-404. http://www.springer.com/gb/book/9783319287836; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28784-3_21

Abstract
This chapter takes an overview of credit co-operatives in Serbia in retrospect and prospect. It starts by examining the legal frameworks that have regulated their work, from the first Law on agricultural and handicraft co-operatives from 1898, through to the most recent Law on Banks from 2005. It moves on to consider different phases of development of credit co-operatives; before the second world war (when numbers peaked during the 1930s); during the post-war period (when the sector declined in the face of state socialism); and during the more recent period of transition (leading to the dissolution of credit co-operatives in 2005). To conclude the paper, the current situation (which places significant legal obstacles in the way of credit co-operatives) is then assessed and the possibility of the revitalization of credit co-operatives is considered. Special attention will be given to how the revitalization of credit co-operatives might play a role in the survival and effectiveness of other co-operative sectors in Serbia, particularly agriculture (since agricultural co-operatives account for 67 % of the total number of registered co-operatives in Serbia today). This analysis suggests that the situation is now critical, and an urgent review of the current position is required.

StatusPublished
Title of seriesContributions to Economics
Publication date31/12/2016
PublisherSpringer
Publisher URLhttp://www.springer.com/gb/book/9783319287836
Place of publicationDordrecht
ISSN of series1431-1933
ISBN978-3-319-28783-6
eISBN978-3-319-28784-3

People (1)

Professor Richard Simmons

Professor Richard Simmons

Professor, Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology