The Growth of Italian Cooperatives - History and Policy Insight

In this review of The Growth of Italian Cooperatives readers looking for a comprehensive, evidence-backed account of cooperative development will find a focused resource. The book explains how Italy's cooperative sector expanded to over 60,000 cooperatives and supported 1.3 million jobs, making it essential reading for students, policy makers and social enterprise practitioners interested in a democratic business model. Its single biggest reason to buy is the clear explanation of how cooperative structures delivered both economic performance and social responsibility during periods of economic stress.

Key Features

• Comprehensive sector overview: The book describes the scale of the Italian cooperative sector, including the number of cooperatives and employment reach, giving readers a strong factual foundation.
• Evidence of job creation: It explains how cooperatives were responsible for roughly 30 percent of new jobs in Italy between 2001 and 2011, which helps readers understand real-world impact.
• Policy and market analysis: The text analyzes how democratic cooperative enterprises competed successfully in a market economy, useful for comparative economic study.
• Focus on resilience: The book traces cooperative growth through the global financial crisis, showing practical examples of resilience under pressure.
• Social responsibility emphasis: It highlights the sector's capacity to combine economic success with social goals, relevant for social innovation research.

Who It's For

The Growth of Italian Cooperatives is best suited for academics, public policy students and practitioners of social enterprise who need a detailed case study of a large cooperative sector. The book's focus on employment impact and cooperative governance makes it particularly relevant to those studying industrial relations, cooperative law and community economics.

Readers seeking quick how-to guides for starting a cooperative or hands-on management manuals should look elsewhere; this volume is stronger on sector-level analysis and historical evidence than step-by-step operational advice. It is also less suited to casual readers who prefer narrative biographies or short popular summaries.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The book provides a clear, data-driven account of the cooperative sector's scale and employment contribution, which strengthens arguments for pluralist markets.
• It links cooperative governance to real economic outcomes, offering useful lessons for policy makers and social entrepreneurs.
• The focus on resilience during the global financial crisis supplies practical context for discussions of organizational durability.

Cons

• The text is largely sectoral and analytical, so readers wanting operational checklists or practical start-up templates may find it too theoretical.

Specifications

Title	The Growth of Italian Cooperatives
Series	Routledge Studies in Social Enterprise & Social Innovation
Author	Piero Ammirato
Coverage	Italian cooperative sector scale, job creation and resilience
Key data point	Over 60,000 cooperatives; 1.3 million employees
Period highlighted	Growth including 2001 to 2011 and the global financial crisis

Our Verdict

The Growth of Italian Cooperatives is a valuable, evidence-rich study for anyone researching cooperative economics, social enterprise policy or labor-market effects of democratic business models. Its detailed account of widespread employment impact and sector resilience makes it good value for academics and policy makers who need a rigorous case study rather than a how-to manual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover employment statistics for cooperatives?
Yes. It reports the sector employs about 1.3 million people and discusses the contribution to job creation between 2001 and 2011.

Is it practical guidance for starting a cooperative?
No. The book focuses on sector analysis and policy lessons rather than step-by-step operational guides for new cooperatives.

Who is the author?
Piero Ammirato is the author, and the book appears in the Routledge Studies in Social Enterprise & Social Innovation series.