ühistuline

ühistuline is an Estonian term that translates to "cooperative" or "collective" in English. It refers to a type of organization where individuals come together voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. Cooperatives are based on the core values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. Members, who are also users or beneficiaries of the cooperative's services, share ownership and decision-making power.

In Estonia, ühistuline forms are prevalent in various sectors, including agriculture, housing, consumer goods, and finance. For instance, agricultural cooperatives enable farmers to pool resources for purchasing supplies, marketing produce, and sharing equipment, thereby increasing their bargaining power and efficiency. Housing cooperatives (korteriühistu) are common in apartment buildings, where residents collectively manage the maintenance, repair, and administration of their property. Financial cooperatives, such as credit unions, offer banking services to their members. The principle of ühistuline emphasizes mutual benefit and community support over profit maximization for external shareholders. Decisions are typically made through a one-member, one-vote system, ensuring democratic participation regardless of the amount of capital contributed.