Resilience of the Cooperative Business Model in Times of Crisis

Citation

Birchall J & Ketilson LH (2009) Resilience of the Cooperative Business Model in Times of Crisis. Sustainable Enterprise Programme / Responses to the global economic crisis. Geneva: International Labour Organisation. http://www.ilo.org/empent/Publications/WCMS_108416/lang--en/index.htm

Abstract
The financial and ensuing economic crisis has had negative impacts on the majority of enterprises; however, cooperative enterprises around the world are showing resilience to the crisis. Financial cooperatives remain financially sound; consumer cooperatives are reporting increased turnover; worker cooperatives are seeing growth as people choose the cooperative form of enterprise to respond to new economic realities. Why is this form of enterprise proving so resilient? This report will provide historical evidence and current empirical evidence that proves that the cooperative model of enterprise survives crisis, but more importantly that it is a sustainable form of enterprise able to withstand crisis, maintaining the livelihoods of the communities in which they operate. It will further suggest ways in which the ILO can strengthen its activity in the promotion of cooperatives as a means to address the current crisis and avert future crisis.

Keywords
co-operative banks; banking crisis; Cooperative societies Finance Case studies; Debts, External Case studies

Notes
Also published in Italian, Mizo, and Greek.

• Resilience of the Cooperative Business Model in Times of Crisis.pdf
• Resilience_Cooperative_Business_Model.pdf