Co-operatives in a Post-Growth Era

Sonja Novkovic is a professor of economics at Saint Mary’s University, and academic co-director in the Co-operative Management Education programme. Currently, she is the chair of the International Co-operative Alliance Research Committee and academic co-lead of the Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network in collaboration with Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada.Tom Webb is an adjunct professor at Saint Mary’s University School of Business and former programme manager of the master’s degree in the Management of Co-operatives and Credit Unions (MMCCU).

• Introduction: Co-operative Economics, Why Our World Needs It - Tom Webb and Sonja NovkovicPart I: What is the New Economy and Why Do We Need It?1. The World On a Collision Course and the Need for a New Economy - Manfred Max-Neef2. The New Economy - Neva Goodwin3. The World We Need - Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett4. Are Prosperity and Sustainability Compatible? - William E. Rees5. Living Well: Explorations into the End of Growth - Peter A. Victor6. Complexity: Shock, Innovation and Resilience - Thomas Homer-Dixon7. Finance for the Anthropocene - John FullertonPart II: Co-operatives and the New Economy8. Choices, Incentives and Co-operative Organization - Stefano Zamagni9. Are Co-operatives a Viable Business Form? Lessons from Behavioural Economics - Morris Altman10. The Co-operative Enterprise: A Valid Alternative for a Balanced Society - Vera Negri Zamagni11. Employee Ownership and Health: An Initial Study - David Erdal12. Co-operatives in a Global Economy: Key Issues, Recent Trends and Potential for Development - Stephen C. Smith and Jonathan Rothbaum13. A Role for Co-operatives in Governance of Common-pool Resources and Common Property Systems - Barbara Allen14. Is the Debt Trap Avoidable? - Claudia Sanchez BajoConclusion - Sonja Novkovic and Tom Webb

Co-operative leaders need to understand the economy from a perspective that is consistent with their purpose, values and principles. Neoclassical economics is off the mark in too many ways. These chapters provide a more realistic reading of the economy and will be helpful in understanding the challenges we face and how best we can contribute to making this a better world through co-operative action.