World experience in the development of entrepreneurial activity of cooperative associations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65026/315a1g59Keywords:
cooperative entrepreneurship, cooperative associations, international cooperative development, cooperative governance, cooperative innovation, cooperative business modelAbstract
This article examines world experience in developing entrepreneurial activity within cooperative associations, analyzing successful models across diverse geographic and sectoral contexts. Employing a mixed-methods research approach integrating quantitative performance data from the World Cooperative Monitor with qualitative case analysis, the study identifies critical success factors enabling cooperative entrepreneurial development. The research reveals significant regional disparities, with European cooperatives dominating global rankings due to comprehensive institutional support, while African cooperatives remain notably absent despite substantial grassroots activity. Four primary success factor categories emerged: governance excellence, external cooperation and networking, innovation capacity, and institutional environment alignment. The analysis demonstrates that cooperatives exhibit superior resilience and comparable innovation performance relative to conventional firms when operating within supportive institutional frameworks. The study proposes recommendations for enhancing cooperative entrepreneurial capacity, including distinct legal recognition, integrated cooperative education, strengthened inter-cooperative collaboration, and cooperative-specific innovation support mechanisms. These findings contribute to both theoretical understanding and practical guidance for cooperative development practitioners and policymakers.
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