Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has declared co-operatives to be the future business model for all countries, following the worldwide economic crisis.
Prof. Prodi, in a video recorded at the Euricse academic conference last week, talks about the role of the co-operative model in a world experiencing changes to its economic systems.
Former President of European Commission, Prof. Prodi observes that there are many changes of action in the global landscape and Europe has to transform its social and economic development model by betting on industry and schools working closer together — and this is where co-operation comes into play.
He says: "Last week I was in Korea and I was really surprised by the connections between school, work and scientific progress. Young people are immediately inside production, this is the new world."
Looking at the role of the co-operative model in this change, Prof. Prodi declares that it is difficult to predict. There are countries that look unfavourably on co-operatives for historical reasons, such as being used as a model of oppression in former USSR countries. There are also countries in Asia where co-operation is largely unacknowledged and it is up to Europe to create an understanding around co-operation, according to the Professor.
Though, it is not impossible, according to Prof. Prodi. He says: "Definitely the new challenge for co-operation is to become a global system."
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