Cooperation Among Cooperatives in Italian and Comparative Law

34 Pages Posted: 24 Dec 2015

See all articles by Antonio Fici

Antonio Fici

University of Molise; European Research Institute on Cooperative & Social Enterprise (EURICSE)

Date Written: December 23, 2015

Abstract

A study of a cooperative as an isolated economic unit, with no relations with other cooperatives, would provide only an incomplete and inaccurate picture of its full scope. In fact, from their emergence, cooperatives have developed economic and socio-political forms of inter-cooperative integration, which have enormously contributed to their success as a distinct legal form of enterprise. Therefore, not surprisingly, the International Cooperative Alliance has decided to consider “cooperation among cooperatives” as a specific principle of cooperative identity. The main objective of this article is to ascertain whether, how and to what extent cooperative law has implemented this principle. The comparative legal analysis will begin with Italian law, which constitutes an excellent example of how cooperative law can be shaped to favour the development of both individual cooperatives and a big and active cooperative movement, and which helps to build an adequate conceptual framework to deal with the subject of inter-cooperation.

Keywords: cooperatives, inter-cooperation, secondary cooperatives, cooperative groups, comparative law

JEL Classification: K22

Suggested Citation

Fici, Antonio, Cooperation Among Cooperatives in Italian and Comparative Law (December 23, 2015). Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2015, p. 64-97, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2707554

Antonio Fici (Contact Author)

University of Molise

Via De Sanctis
Campobasso, Campobasso (CB) 86100
Italy

European Research Institute on Cooperative & Social Enterprise (EURICSE) ( email )

Via S. Giovanni 36
38122 Trento (TN)
Italy

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