Journal of Co-operative Studies Vol 37 Issue 2

Guest editorial - Background to the CONFIDENCE Project

Mervyn Wilson, Chief Executive and Principal, Co-operative College, p 3

The CONFIDENCE Project -Creating Open Networks for Financial Instruments to Develop Engagement by Co-operative Employees - was EU funded and headed by the Trentino Federation of Co-operatives  and the University of Trento, Italy. Other partners included the Co-operative College in the UK, the Mondragon Co-operative Corporation in Spain and the European Confederation of Workers' Co-operatives (CECOP). The project derived from the growing interest in CSR in the private sector, through to which companies are required to take in to account the interests of stakeholders other than their share holders, i.e. including employees. This special issue focuses on two reports based on UK and Italian experience of financial participation by employees in co-operatives. 

CONFIDENCE project reports

Financial participation by employees in co-operatives in Britain 

Andrew Bibby, pp. 5-15

The issue of members' financial participation in their co-operatives is the subject of Principle 3 of the International Co-operative alliances; revised values and principles. This report provides an overview of UK co-operatives and developments in the co-operative movement before moving on to consider legal frameworks and financial participation by employees in retail (consumer) co-operatives, worker co-operatives, ad community co-operatives.

Financial participation by employees in co-operatives in Italy

Antonio Fici, pp. 16-56

The introduction to this comprenhensive report provides an overview of financial participation, shared ownership and profit-sharing as well as the aims of the Confidence Project and the objectives of the report. The report aims to give a general picture of financial participation in co-operative enterprises, to raise awareness of aspects of financial participation, and to suggest ways in which participation can be operationalised. Legal and context-specific considerations are noted, the role of governments and others, and individual and collective dimensions. Part 2, provides more specific illustrations of Italian experiences and Italian legal system.

Book reviews

Property for people, not for profit: Alternatives to the global tyranny of capital. By Ulrich Duchrow and Franz J Hinkelammert.
Reviewed by T F Carbery, p. 57

Development of French co-operative thought in Britain: E. V. Neale and Community-based well-being. By Yuchiro Nakagawa.
Reviewed by Raymond Donnelly, pp. 58-59

Local society and global economy: The role of co-operatives. Report of International Co-operative Research Conference. By Karafolas, Spear, and Stryjan.
Reviewed by Rita Rhodes, pp. 60-61.