Adolf Hitler’s hatred and intolerance of sections of society is well documented, but less known is the…
Member economic participation: turning co-operative supporters into co-operative investors
The path to member economic participation, one of the core co-operative principles, never did run smooth.…
The Marcora Law: an effective tool of active employment policy
Camillo De Berardinis, managing director of CFI, (Cooperazione Finanza Impresa – Cooperation Finance Enterprise), looks at how the Marcora…
The co-operative disadvantage: Why the movement needs a level playing field
Who would voluntarily choose to be a co-operative or a community benefit society? Or – to…
The lesson behind the Austrian co-op banking disaster
Many European countries have co-operative banks. Germany’s Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken are perhaps the best-known, but France,…
What lessons can the UK learn from Germany’s co-operative banking sector?
Co-operative banks make up about two thirds of all German retail banks, and have a broad…
China’s farm co-ops sow for growth
Co-operatives in China are on the rise, especially in the agricultural sector. As Chinese new year…
Could co-ops be the solution for a first class post office?
In 1660, Charles II established the Post Office as the official means of communication between the…
Brass bands: Building communities through music and co-operatives
Brass bands have a rich history worldwide – and in the UK they have a strong…
Let’s talk: inspiring young people to play an active role in communities
Too often, young people aren’t shaping the decisions which affect their lives, but they still inherit…
Seven ways to promote your co-operative difference
In a crowded and busy market, how can you distinguish your business? Evidence shows that people…