The cooperative business form has gained widespread respect in value-added agriculture as a way for producers to retain ownership of the produce as it moves through the supply chain. However, the cooperative model is also being extended to public services in sparsely populated rural areas that otherwise would be without these services. Cooperative business forms are becoming a major tool in local economic development and they are being used in innovative ways to serve rural constituents. This authoritative source identifies and explains many of the issues involved in creating and managing these business efforts. Leading scholars trace the history of cooperatives, describe various approaches involved, and examine the effects that cooperatives can have on rural communities. Chapters include research on cooperatives that cannot be found elsewhere. For example, the chapter devoted to new cooperative law is written by the author of the original law. Included also are chapters on social capital and consumer cooperatives that are groundbreaking. Written for the student, researcher, and policy maker, this volume is unique in providing in-depth research findings on the broad spectrum of issues facing the creation and management of cooperatives.

Merrett and Walzer, both of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University, argue that individuals in rural communities can achieve economic and social objectives as a group that they could not achieve as sole producers, workers, or consumers.

They collect contributions reviewing classic texts, current literature, and case studies relevant to co-ops and community-based economic development. Contributors in law, agricultural economics, agribusiness, and consumer science trace the history of cooperatives, describe various approaches involved, and examine the effects that cooperatives can have on local development.

The cooperative business form has gained widespread respect in value-added agriculture as a way for producers to retain ownership of the produce as it moves through the supply chain. However, the cooperative model is also being extended to public services in sparsely populated rural areas that otherwise would be without these services. Cooperative business forms are becoming a major tool in local economic development and they are being used in innovative ways to serve rural constituents. This authoritative source identifies and explains many of the issues involved in creating and managing these business efforts. Leading scholars trace the history of cooperatives, describe various approaches involved, and examine the effects that cooperatives can have on rural communities.

Chapters include research on cooperatives that cannot be found elsewhere. For example, the chapter devoted to new cooperative law is written by the author of the original law. Included also are chapters on social capital and consumer cooperatives that are groundbreaking. Written for the student, researcher, and policy maker, this volume is unique in providing in-depth research findings on the broad spectrum of issues facing the creation and management of cooperatives.

Voltaire once said about the Holy Roman Empire that it was "neither holy, Roman, nor an empire." In similar fashion, it can be argued that the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is neither free, about trade, nor a popularly supported agreement. "Merrett forces the rhetoric surrounding free trade into a confrontation with the facts: rising unemployment, falling wages, and the dismantling of Canada's social programs."--"Florida State University"