A short course introducing co-operative firms, in the context of the Candian economy where various forms of co-operative make up a significant sector of the economy. The course offers foundational knowledge about co-operatives, explaining what they are and how they operate.
The course, as the name suggests, introduces what coops are, why they exist and how they operate. The underlying principles of coops include a sense of community, mutual self-help, participation and ownership. Seen as an alternative business model to the capitalist model for its focus on equity and shared benefits, Coops allow for the inception of something that would not have been possible for a single individual. However, most coops are short-lived. Why is this so? This course explores the various coops that exist in Canada and how they have contributed to the community.