kooperatyvas

Kooperatyvas, or cooperative, is a legally registered organization owned and democratically controlled by its members, who use its services, supply capital, or work there. Its primary aim is to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs through mutual aid rather than to maximize profits for external shareholders. In most cooperatives, each member has one vote, regardless of capital contributed, and profits are allocated to members according to their use or reinvested in the enterprise.

Cooperatives typically follow a set of principles known as Rochdale Principles, established by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers in 1844. These include voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, economic participation by members, autonomy and independence, education and information, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for the community. Governance is usually provided by a board elected by members and by a management team responsible for daily operations.

Cooperatives take various forms, including consumer co-ops that procure goods for members, producer co-ops that help producers market or process products, worker co-ops owned and run by employees, agricultural co-ops that aid farmers, housing co-ops that provide affordable residences, and financial or credit unions that pool savings and extend credit.

Historically, cooperatives emerged in Europe in the 19th century and spread globally. The International Cooperative Alliance coordinates cooperative standards and advocacy, while notable examples such as the Mondragon Corporation in Spain illustrate large-scale worker cooperatives that operate across multiple industries.

Cooperatives are subject to national laws governing their formation, capital, governance, and taxation, which vary by country. Benefits commonly cited include democratic control, member-focused services, and local economic development; challenges include governance complexity, capital constraints, and limits to rapid growth. They remain a widely used model for collective economic activity.