Cooperation: A Study in Constructive Economic Reform (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Gordon S. Watkins

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0656511222 ISBN 13: 9780656511228

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2019

Synopsis

Understand the rise and limits of worker-led cooperation in early American industry.

This concise study explains why cooperative stores and wholesale societies have developed slowly in North America, and what keeps them from lasting in a market dominated by large chains and private retailers. It also looks at how workers’ groups, unions, and local communities are building new cooperative efforts across states like Michigan and Illinois.

Cooperation: A Study in Constructive Economic Reform examines real-world examples, the challenges they face, and the practical outcomes for members. It shows both the promise of shared ownership and the obstacles of scale, credit, and management in a competitive economy. The book highlights what has helped some American cooperatives succeed and where others have fallen short, offering a clear picture of what cooperative enterprise can mean for workers and consumers.

• Real-world case studies from Michigan and Illinois illustrate how cooperatives operate, who joins, and how profits are shared.
• The text identifies common pitfalls, including management issues, credit terms, and fierce competition from large retailers.
• It outlines the social and economic benefits of cooperative models, such as financial resilience and informed participation in economic life.
• It traces organizational efforts, from local stores to national movements, and what supports long-term viability.

Ideal for readers of economic reform, labor history, and consumer cooperatives who want a grounded view of how cooperative ideas meet a changing market.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0656511222
• ISBN 13: 9780656511228
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 91