Journal of Co-operative Studies, 34(3), 188-197

Abstract

This paper argues that non-profits serving a membership (that is, mutual non-profits) are similar to co-operatives, particularly co-operatives without shares, and they should not be viewed as a distinct organisation type. Two types of evidence are considered: first, the evidence from a previously published study is reviewed. That study indicates that mutual non-profits and co-operatives (particularly, co-operatives without shares) have a strikingly similar pattern of scores on five dependent measures (social objectives; volunteer participation; democratic decision-making; government dependence; and market reliance) derived from the social economy framework. The second type of evidence is a comparison between these two organisation types using the co-operative principles. Again, very little difference is found. The study concludes by reconceptualising the relationship between co-operatives and mutual non-profits within a social economy framework.