The contribution of co-operatives to the sustainable development of local economic circuit – premises, possibilities, outlook

Due to their democratic organisation and their economic orientation - cooperatives contribute significantly to social integration, job creation and the reduction of poverty. Cooperatives are thus stabilising regional economic cycles and can generate regional employment. The United Nations general assembly declared 2012 as the international year of cooperatives and thus acknowledges their worldwide impact on economic and social development.

Different economic and social contexts have fostered the development of different cooperative models, doing business in specific sectors and territories. With various success though. One central aim of this scientific track is to reveal those factors, which successfully support sustainable local development.

In South Tyrol cooperatives traditionally have a significant impact on economic and social development. Although the population totals only about 507,000 inhabitants, South Tyrol registered at the end of 2010 922 cooperatives with 160,000 members, operating in the field of agriculture, retailing, social affairs and credit business.

Bearing this in mind, the European Academy Bozen/Bolzano, the University of Innsbruck, the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises Trento (EURICSE) and the Free University of Bozen/Bolzano are organizing a Scientific Track within the framework of the conference “the contribution of co-operatives to the sustainable development of local economic circuit – premises, possibilities, outlook”, taking place on November, 8th until November, 9th 2012 (08/11/12 – 09/11/12 morning: Scientific Track; 09/11/11 afternoon: Symposium).