What is Cooperativism?

  

ECONOMICS

"Cooperatives are jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprises rooted in the values of self-help, self-responsibility, equality, equity, democracy, and solidarity. People, not profit, are at the center of a cooperative's economic activity. All members participate actively and equally in making decisions and setting policy. Cooperatives are indivisible; accumulated capital is primarily reinvested into the cooperative. Cooperatives can often provide their members with more favorable working conditions and access to goods and services than found in the free market. Deeply embedded in the local reality, cooperatives also make significant contributions to the local economy."

http://www.id-coop.eu/en/KeyConcepts/Pages/Cooperativism.aspx

​SOCIETY

A cooperative society is based upon cooperation, democracy, the equitable distribution of resources, the natural maintenance of health and a sustainable relationship with nature.

http://www.thecooperativesociety.org/