Cooperatives: the ninth largest economy in the world!

Cooperatives are one of the most major organizational innovations to date. If they formed a country, it would be the ninth largest economy and the largest democracy in...

Cooperatives are one of the most major organizational innovations to date. If they formed a country, it would be the ninth largest economy and the largest democracy in the world. But beyond these statements, what is the socio-economic impact of cooperatives on a global scale? How are cooperatives perceived throughout the world?

These questions are at the forefront of two international groundbreaking studies: the first was conducted by the Institut de recherche et d’éducation pour les coopératives et les mutuelles de l’Université de Sherbrooke (IRECUS), and the second by the Ipsos research firm in partnership with Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

The results of both studies have been discussed during the round table under the theme “The role of cooperatives and mutuals in the global economy – From theory to practice”.

The IRECUS study confirms the relevance of the model and explains its contribution to a better world, with three main dynamics, proper to its identity. Effectively, cooperatives and mutuals directly contribute to ensure economic, social and political stabilization and regulation, maintain equitable access to goods and services and promote economic, social and political diversity and inclusion.

The global research study on perceptions towards cooperatives by Ispos in partnership with UQAM reveals that growth is a double-edged sword for cooperatives and that we must promote the cooperative model with pride and change the perceptions that cooperatives are not modern enough.

To learn more, the Summit invites you to consult the data sheet of the studies entitled Socio-economic impact of cooperatives and mutuals worldwide by IRECUS, and The cooperative movement: the world’s perception of cooperatives and mutuals by IPSOS-UQAM.

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