The Mutualistic Relationship in Italian Cooperative Companies

Ranucci Roberto ()
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Ranucci Roberto: Università Mercatorum, Piazza Mattei, 10, 00186 Roma, Italy

Zeitschrift für das gesamte Genossenschaftswesen, 2025, vol. 75, issue 3, 138-152

Abstract: This paper analyzes the legal structure of Italian cooperative companies, focusing on the mutualistic purpose that sets them apart from profit-driven enterprises. It highlights the dual role of the shareholder, who enters both a company relationship – based on capital contribution and governance rights – and a mutualistic relationship, a distinct contractual relationship enabling reciprocal exchange. The mutualistic purpose is not achieved through investment alone but requires the shareholder’s active participation in the cooperative’s operations. Through an analysis of Italian legal doctrine and statutory reforms, the paper shows that the mutualistic relationship is central to the legal identity, function, and sustainability of cooperative enterprises.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1515/zfgg-2025-0017

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