Conclusion

Jongick Jang ()
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Jongick Jang: Hanshin University, School of Global Business

Chapter 8 in Strategic Management of Cooperatives, 2026, pp 265-269 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The conclusion argues that cooperatives fundamentally differ from capitalist firms in their purposes, values, organization, and performance criteria. Although cooperatives operate in market economies, they embody alternative principles based on mutuality, solidarity, and democratic member control. While some claim that mature cooperatives inevitably become like investor-owned firms, contemporary capitalism itself is changing through ESG investing, stakeholder-oriented governance, B Corporations, and new forms of work that emphasize autonomy, cooperation, and ethical values. What is needed, therefore, is not cooperatives that resemble traditional capitalist firms, but cooperatives that consciously embed their distinctive purposes and values into their business models and organizational structures. The conclusion summarizes answers to thirteen key questions on how cooperatives can achieve sustainability while preserving their distinctive identity. These answers highlight the conditions under which cooperatives succeed, the importance of member-based cooperation and inter-cooperative solidarity, the role of fair governance and leadership, the need for balanced capital structures, and the limitations of conventional performance measures. It also emphasizes that supportive legal, financial, and institutional ecosystems are essential for cooperatives to realize their economic and social potential.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-95-7429-2_8

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-7429-2_8

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