A theoretical Approach to Co-op Firms: Beyond Mainstream Reductionism

Abstract:     
This work focuses on theoretical approaches to labour-managed firms. First, mainstream contributions to the understanding of co-op firms are reviewed. Neo-classical and neo-institutional perspectives in this field are discussed. The heart of the text is devoted to the development of an institutional and heterodox approach to labour-managed firms. To do so, Albert Hirschman’s, Amartya Sen’s, and the French ‘´economie des conventions’ contributions are used; political philosophy texts are mobilized as well (Ricoeur, Berlin, Rosanvallon). This thought process implies taking into account the complexity of human behaviour as well as the reflexive capabilities of individuals (meta-preferences concept), which obviously affects the analysis of the labour-managed firm. We then characterize the latter as an economic and politic organization which allows the expression of a collective reflexivity regarding goals, rules and values. The labour-managed firm is understood as an organization in which individuals create together the institutional frame that supports their coordination.

Ce travail sintresse aux approches thoriques de lentreprise cooprative (ou autogre). On revient, dans un premier temps, sur les analyses conomiques de lentreprise cooprative par le courant dominant de la thorie conomique. Les apports de lconomie noclassique et no-institutionnelle dans ce domaine sont prsents et critiqus. Le cur de larticle est consacr au dveloppement dune approche institutionnelle et non-standard de lentreprise cooprative. Pour cela, on sappuie notamment sur les travaux dAlbert Hirschman, dAmartya Sen et de lEconomie des Conventions, des textes de philosophie politique sont galement mobiliss (Rosanvallon, Ricoeur, Berlin). Une telle dmarche suppose de prendre en compte la complexit des comportements individuels et les capacits rflexives des individus (concept de mtaprfrence), ce qui a des consquences directes sur lanalyse que lon peut faire de lentreprise cooprative. On se propose alors de caractriser cette dernire comme une forme dorganisation politico-conomique originale -permettant lexpression dune rflexivit de nature collective portant sur des objectifs, des rgles mais aussi des valeurs- dans laquelle les individus construisent eux-mmes lenvironnement institutionnel qui supporte la coordination dans lactivit productive.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 30

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