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In times of globalisation, locally rooted co-operatives become more important. With transparent structures, member-support, and the mandate of member-promotion, they can build on trust of their members in self-elected leadership and in the system. Being part of an integrated co-operative system, co-operatives can combine advantages of closeness to members with benefits of large scale enterprise.

The present book combines experience of three specialists from the fields of economic and agrarian policy, law of organisations and business administration, all having thorough knowledge of co-operative theory and practice. It shows how "Our Co-op" is functioning and what co-operators should know about their organisation.

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The authors are Profes. emeriti of three different Universities: W. U. Grosskopf, University of Hohenheim; Hans-H. Münkner, University of Marburg and G. Ringle, University of Hamburg. They are all former directors of research centres for co-operative studies.

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