1. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES Competitive Advantages of Consumer Co-operatives Dr. Lou Hammond Ketilson Director, Centre for the Study of Co-operatives September 2009 www.usaskstudies.coop

2. Overview of Presentation What do we know about Consumer Co-operatives? What are some of the central debates among researchers? What do we need to know about Consumer Co-operatives? How do we find answers to these questions? C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

3. What do we know about Consumer Co-operatives Long and successful history Top 15 of Global 300 list – only one is not a consumer co-operative Model has spread around the world – typically takes a form consistent with local context but there are many similarities across countries C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

4. What do we know about Consumer Co-operatives There is great diversity in application –Retail/wholesale co-ops –Financial and Insurance Services –Service co-operatives Funeral Housing Child care Preschool Eldercare C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

5. Great diversity in application Health care Water supply, natural gas, rural electric Recreational Transportation, communication Community development C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

6. What do we know about Consumer Co-operatives Many pressures come to bear –Governance –Management –Financing –Competition from private sector –Lack of understanding in government C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

7. What do we know about Consumer Co-operatives The model is resilient in times of economic crisis “Resilience of the Cooperative Business Model in Times of Crisis” -International Labour Organization, 2009 C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

8. Central Debates in the Literature Centralized vs decentralized structures –Strengths or weaknesses of federated structures –Impact of amalgamations on member identity/loyalty Role and composition of boards of directors C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

9. Central Debates in the Literature Financing models –Role of/impact of outside investors Efficiency –comparative studies with IOF Role of government –Developing economies Member Engagement –particularly youth, also women, minorities, Indigenous groups C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

10. What do we need to know about Consumer Co-operatives Answers to all of the above! How do we do this? By integrating theory and practice – what does this mean? C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

11. Approaches to Research University-based conceptual and theoretical Sector-based applied research and training Integrated - collaboration between sector and university

12. Examples United States –University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives Madison United Kingdom –Centre for Co-operative Studies University College Cork Ireland –The Co-operative College Manchester England C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

13. Examples Europe –European Research Institute on Co- operative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE), Trento Italy –Ruralia Institute, University of Helsinki Asia Pacific –Consumer Cooperative Institute, Japan

14. Co-operatives in Canada At least 4 in 10 Canadians are members 17.2 million memberships 9 million in Canadian Co-operative Association affiliates Over $280 billion in assets 9,000 co-ops With 170,000 employees 70,000 volunteer directors C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES

15. Co-operatives in Canada, 2005 Map

16. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES Canada British Columbia Institute for Co- operative Studies l'Institut de recherche et d'éducation pour les coopératives et les mutuelles Université de Sherbrooke

17. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES Centre for the Study of Co-operatives Saskatchewan Canada interdisciplinary teaching and research institute established in 1984 supported by the university, the co-op sector, the Government of Saskatchewan part of an international network of similar centres –largest in Anglophone Canada –most research oriented in NA –one of most interdisciplinary in the world long-term community-university partnership

18. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES What We Do develop courses that provide an understanding of co-op theory, principles, development, structures, and legislation undertake original research into co-operatives publish co-operative research, by both centre staff and other researchers maintain a resource centre of materials that supports our teaching and research functions share our knowledge and experience through outreach activities

19. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES Research political, social, economic, and historical issues relating to co-operatives conceptual and applied research — each informed by the other research is grounded, community-based, interdisciplinary research model is collaborative — creating linkages, building networks audience includes academics, policy makers, and practitioners

20. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES Visiting Research Fellows program promotes research focused on co-operatives supports both academics and co-op practitioners fellows are in residence at the centre develop a research paper, present seminars, and provide guest lectures

21. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES The Centre’s Websites www.usaskstudies.coop www.socialcohesion.coop www.usaskstudies.coop/socialeconomy

22. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES ICA Committee on Co-operative Research 1957 Research Officers Group, 1970's ICA Research, Planning and Development Group Today functions as a network open to all those interested in sharing research on the co-operative model of enterprise

23. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES ICA Committee on Co-operative Research International conferences –Oxford 2-3 September 2009 Regional conferences Research Symposium Geneva 17 November 2009 –“Successful Models for Achieving a Collaborative Research Agenda”

24. C ENTRE FOR THE S TUDY OF C O-OPERATIVES Thank You!