Bernardi et al. - Sustainable but not spontaneous
Bernardi, A., Berranger, C., Mannella, A., Monni, S., & Realini, A. (2022). Sustainable but not spontaneous: Co-operatives and the solidarity funds in Italy. Sustainability, 14(8), 4516.
This paper aims to highlight the role of solidarity funds in developing and supporting national co-operative movements. Those are financial institutions specialised in supporting the start-up and growth of co-operatives. By adopting a case study approach, the analysis shows that solidarity funds emerged globally with similar objectives. The international comparison focuses on Italy but includes France, the United Kingdom, and Québec as a specific Canadian province with a French institutional environment. Despite their crucial importance, there is limited available research on this subject. The policy implication of the paper is that we need to consider establishing such institutions in countries where co-operatives are lagging behind, as traditional financial institutions are often unable to finance co-operatives because of their property rights regime.
Bernardi et al. “Sustainable but not spontaneous: Co-operatives and the solidarity funds in Italy”