International Co-op movement Flashcards
ICA
International Co-operative Alliance: federation representing the co-operative movement. Founded in 1895 to unite and representatives worldwide
How many countries does the ICA represent?
94 countries (as of 2014)
Co-ops in the United States (# and jobs)
- 30,000 co-operatives
- 2 million jobs
Which country ranks the top in the world in terms of dollars turned over?
US
Co-ops in Mexico
safe haven from the financial and food crisis that have affected the country
Examples of co-ops in Mexico
- Just Us Coffee Roasters in Nova Scotia- purchases coffee beans from co-op in Mexico
- “In pursuit of Justice”
- 2014 Fernwood Publishing
Central America Cooperatives
- Coffee co-operatives in Costa Rice
South America Co-operatives
- Columbia: provides 3.65% of all jobs
- Uruguay: responsible for 3% of the GDP (90% of milk production)
Africa Co-operatives
Kenya: approx 250,000 employed
Asia
Indonesia: almost 300,00 jobs
Japan: 90 million USD
Australia & New Zealand
New Zealand: 3% of GDP, co-ops responsible for 95% of the dairy market
Europe
France: over 1 million jobs
Denmark: 36.4% of consumer retail market
Spain: 15% of the population members of a co-operative
Mondragon Co-operative
- located in Basque region of Spain
- has been fighting for independence from spain
Mondragon mission:
to create wealth within society through entrepreneurial development and job creation, preferably membership-jobs in co-operatives
- they encourage people management and ownership to develop a joint, harmonizing project aimed at social, business and personal development
MCC stands for:
Mondragon co-operative corporation
Social Economy Definition
Enterprises and organizations such as co-ops, non-profits, and charities
The Social Economy examples
- civil society organizations (people centered)
- united way, red cross, habitat for humanity
Business sectors in the social economy include:
- social economy businesses (co-operatives/credit unions and social enterprises)
- public sector businesses (crown corporations, Manitoba hydro)
Underlying characteristics of the social economy (4)
1) social objectives in their mission
2) social ownership
3) volunteer/social participation
4) civic engagement
principles of the social economy (4)
- aim of serving members or the community, rather than generating profit
- an independent management
- a democratic decision making process
- the primacy of people and labour over capital in the distribution of income
The 4 c’s of a solidarity economy
co-responsibility, cooperation, communication, community
People-centred economy
one in which the importance of human life, well-being and social development are put above the interests of capital accumulation and greed
Recent trends threatening the social economy
- unemployment, wage rates, housing costs, fuel costs, cost of university, social exclusion, reduction in social services
How many people does the social economy employ in Canada?
over 2 million people (7.8% of GDP, 79.1 billion)
