Osuuskuntina

Osuuskuntina is the plural essive form of the Finnish noun osuuskunta, meaning “as cooperatives.” In Finnish grammar, the essive case expresses a temporary state or role and uses the ending -na or -nä in the singular; the plural form is osuuskuntina. The form is used to describe something that functions or exists in the capacity of cooperatives, often after verbs of action or being.

Usage examples include: “Monet kuluttajayhteisöt toimivat osuuskuntina” and “Ryhmä toimii osuuskuntina paikallisen viljelijäyhteisönä.” The phrase signals that the entities involved are operating as cooperatives rather than as individuals or as some other organizational form.

Osuuskuntina does not denote a separate organizational type; it is a grammatical device. The underlying concept is the osuuskunta, a member-owned, democratically governed association that emphasizes voluntary and open membership, distribution of surplus, and control by members. In Finland, cooperatives are common in agriculture, consumer networks, housing, and finance, where they provide services and market access to members.

See also: osuuskunta, Osuuskuntalaki, cooperative movement in Finland.