Determinants of Co-operative Patronage in Alberta

Co-operative managers face an increasingly heterogeneous pool of potential members. Because these members bring a variety of economic and noneconomic demands to their co-operative, managers must know how different member characteristics and performance perceptions influence their decision to patronize a co-operative. This study applies three models of co-operative patronage to survey data from rural Alberta. A Poisson regression is used to determine the factors that explain the number of co-operatives used, while an index of co-operative patronage measures the relative intensity of co-operative versus proprietary firm usage. A third model contucts a Tobit analysis of the amount of business conducted with each of several different types of co-operatives. The results show that older farmers tend to partonize more co-operatives, and larger farms do a greater share of their business with co-operatives than do smaller fiarms. Farmers who believe co-operatives offer innovative products and services are more likely to patronize them, while a belief that co-operatives should play an active role in noneconomic matters is not important.     

IS MORE CO-OPERATION THE ANSWER?*

This paper examines the recent decision of the UK authorities to extend co-operative organisation by the creation of second-tier co-operatives. It does this in the light of the development of second- and third-tier co-operatives elsewhere in the EEC and compares their characteristics with those of the proposed British institutions. The overall conclusion is that the measures proposed for the promotion of supra-co-operative organisation in the UK are likely to be insufficient, of themselves, to produce the advantages which such organisation has encouraged on the Continent of Europe but that they will begin the process of attitude change on the part of co-operative managers and farmer-members which is an essential prerequisite of a successful policy for second-tier co-operatives.     

THE PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY OF US MILK PROCESSING CO-OPERATIVES

While co-operative organisations fare well in agricultural markets in the United States, this paper argues that co-operatives are theoretically an inherently inferior form of organisation. Empirically, we apply a nonparametric frontier production model to a sample of co-operative and non-co-operative US fluid-milk processors to determine the relative productive efficiency of these two forms of organisation. Our empirical results support the hypothesis that US milk processing co-operatives are less efficient than their proprietary counterparts.     

Patronage Allocation, Growth and Member Weil-Being in Co-operatives

Capital formation in co-operatives has received a great deal of attention in recent years. Among the questions being raised are whether co-operatives have an adequate equity base and whether members are receiving sufficient benefits to encourage them to patronize the co-operative. The purpose of this paper is to describe the financial relationships that exist between the members of a co-operative and the co-operative itself. The paper also links the method of patronage allocation used in a co-operative to the growth of the co-operative and the well-being of the members. Three of the most commonly used patronage methods are evaluated for their efficacy in this area. It is shown that the percentage equities redemption plan is able to generate rates of growth that are comparable with those generated by the revolving fund, while at the same time providing members with greater returns to their patronage. The paper also examines the impact of different rates of return, alternative membership levels, a change to a cash-based taxation plan, and alternative membership growth patterns on member well-being and the financial health of the co-operative. La formation du capital dans les coopératives a reçu beaucoup d'attention ces dernières années. Parmi les questions soulevées figurent celles qui consistent à savoir si les coopératives ont un avoir des sociétaires suffisant et si les membres reçoivent des avantages de nature à les inciter à le demeurer. Le présent article a pour but de décrire les rapports financiers qui existent entre les membres d'une coopérative et la coopérative comme telle. II relie également la méthode de paiements versées aux sociétaires (ristournes) utilisée dans une coopérative à la croissance de celle-ci et au bien-être des membres. Trois des méthodes les plus couramment utilisées sont évaluées plus leur efficacité dans ce domaine. L'article démontre que le régime de rachat d'un pourcentage de tous les avoirs peut produire des taux de croissance comparables à ceux engendrés par le fonds renouvelable tout en offrant aux membres un meilleur rendement pour récompenser leur fidélité. L'article examine également les répercussions de divers taux de rendement, d'autres niveaux d'adhésion, de l'adoption d'un régime d'imposition basé sur la trésorerie et d'autres modes de croissance de la participation sur le bien-être des membres et la santé financière de la coopérative.     

农民专业合作社绩效度量的实证分析——来自江西省22个样本合作社的数据

本文首先提出了度量农民专业合作社绩效的指标和方法,然后运用从8个调查点共317份调查问卷得到的关于22个合作社的数据进行分析.研究发现,尽管我国农民专业合作社的数量增长迅速,但合作社为社员和自身创造收益能力较差,合作社的发展潜力不强,社会影响力也有待进一步提高.因此,应该坚持从只重视农民专业合作社数量转向以数量与质量并重的政策与价值导向.     

AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATIVE THEORY: A REVIEW*

The notion of a review article would presume that there exists a coherent body of literature on the topic in question. With agricultural co-operative theory this is not quite the case since it has been approached seriously and systematically in some subject areas but disjointedly if at all in others. This review article attempts to ask what predictions can be made about the behaviour of agricultural co-operatives in the present state of theoretical knowledge—thus, each section refers to a topic that readers might hope to have been investigated in the literature, though the findings are necessarily patchy since few areas have been given adequate attention. Where weaknesses and deficiencies occur, I have tried to point them out and to indicate areas for further research. In doing so, I have hazarded my own ideas, so that much of the material is original. As far as I know, for example, nobody has yet seriously considered the life-cycle of the agricultural co-operative organisation, which constitutes the subject matter of section 7, and the discussion put forward in the first half of section 6, on the supply curve of marketing associations, is also my own work. If these are duplicated in papers which I have failed to bring to light in my quest for material for this article, I can only apologise.     

新疆新型农业经营主体空间分异测度与分析

[目的]新型农业经营主体,是新型农业经营体系的重要组成部分。对新疆主要新型农业经营主体,即农民专业合作社、农业产业化龙头企业和家庭农场发展的现状、空间分异规律进行系统分析,对推动新疆农业经营主体健康发展、制定扶持政策和缩小地区间差异具有重要指导意义。[方法]该研究采用泰勒指数法,以各地区农业人口数作为权数,分别运用各类新型农业经营主体的数量、平均经营收入两项指标从不同角度测度新疆经营主体空间分异现象。[结果](1)地带内部差异仍是构成规模总体差异的主要部分,且地带内部差异占总体差异的比重家庭农场最大(89%),龙头企业次之(70%),农民专业合作社最小(66%)。(2)2006年以来新疆农民专业合作社、龙头企业在南、北、东疆区域间的发展趋于平衡,但各区域内部发展不均衡的问题凸现出来。(3)新疆家庭农场平均经营能力地区间差异大于农民专业合作社的,且两类经营主体经营能力的空间分异明显大于规模的。(4)农业产业化龙头企业的经营能力最强,农民专业合作社居中,家庭农场最弱。各区域同类经营主体经营能力差距也很显著。南、北疆农民专业合作社经营能力较强,而东疆的家庭农场经营能力较强。[结论]目前新疆新型农业经营主体空间分布差异较大,各级政府必须加快推进各区域均衡发展。     

AN APPRAISAL OF CONTRACT FARMING

This article reviews the circumstances under which contract farming, as one form of vertical integration, is necessary to secure rapid and efficient co-ordination and adaptability within systems of food production/marketing/distribution. A review of American experience and attitudes indicates that contracting in the U.S.A. has been successful in matching farm production to the needs of consumers more quickly and economically than otherwise would have been possible. Contract terms have generally been ‘fair’ to United States farmers, partly as a result of a strong co-operative system, including a large number of bargaining co-operatives, but also as a result of strong competition between American agri-businesses. American experience and conclusions can be transposed to British circumstances. However, there should be greater publicity and analysis of contract terms, as well as more complete information on the financial performance of the agri-business operations of conglomerates and other multi-product businesses.     

Co-operative Life Cycle and Goals

Ten case study businesses were assessed in relation to sixteen criteria in order to test the application of an hypothesised life cycle. Analysis of stakeholder aspirations for each of these ten businesses was also undertaken. On the basis of the empirical evidence, it was demonstrated that stakeholder groups favour diverse goals, that the level of goal coherence between major stakeholder groups declines as a co-op progresses through the co-operative life cycle and that in the later stages of the life cycle, the aspirations of the managers, rather than those of the farmers, are realised. Furthermore, the managers' preferred goals are reflected in the organisational and financial structures and trading practices of individual late stage businesses, which are more akin to investor oriented firms than traditional co-operatives.     

Agricultural Marketing in France

French production is based on a large agricultural area with a large number of farmers. They work with co-operatives which are very near to them and collect their product. Protectionism has led to a disequilibrium with the economic system in this sector. Actual CAP's orientations and the increase in competition, has forced farmers and co-operatives to concentrate and restructure. The number of farmers has decreased while many co-operatives have started to process raw production materials. One goal of the food industry is to become more international. French food industry made a lot of acquisitions abroad but the increasing place of Italians in French companies also has to be noticed. Distribution plays an important role in agricultural marketing where 66% of food products are sold through about ten companies. This market structure allows them to have a favored position. However, it's a very dynamic sector which now faces some difficulties.     

林业专业合作社发展与林权抵押贷款担保——以浙江丽水市创新竹木专业合作社为例

以浙江丽水市创新竹木专业合作社为例,探讨了林权抵押贷款担保合作社产生的原因和运作机制,指出了林农面临信贷约束和贷款手续繁琐是林权抵押贷款担保合作社产生的重要原因,并提出要努力吸收社员、在稳定核心职能基础上扩大服务范围和提取合作社剩余等建议,以促进林权抵押贷款担保合作社的发展。     

浅谈林业专业合作社财务管理

在简要介绍林业专业合作社的特点的基础上,着重分析了林业专业合作社财务管理中存在的主要问题,如资金严重不足、财务制度不健全、会计基础工作薄弱、缺乏财务管理观念和财务人员素质低等,并针对存在的问题提出了在坚持交易额分配的前提下,适当兼顾按股分配及在坚持社员入股集资的同时,大力筹措外部资金以开拓新的筹资渠道、弥补资金的不足等相应对策。     

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATIVES IN BRITAIN

The theory of the behaviour of the co-operative firm has greatly advanced in recent years though this has not been accompanied by a major resurgence of empirical study. This paper is aimed at a basic investigation of some of the structural features of the British cooperative movement over the period 1975-82. Using various concentration measures familiar in industrial economics it draws a sharp contrast between the requisite and marketing sides. It then focuses on economies of scale using Stigler's survivor technique concluding that there is little evidence of their existence in either sector. Diversification of activity is also considered, where again a contrast is evident. The paper concludes with a note on the policy relevance of the analysis.     

THE FINANCING AND INCORPORATION OF GROUPS AND SYNDICATES

When farmers amalgamate their businesses and interests and carry on farming together, the constitutional form of their association is likely to be either partnership or a limited company, or a combination of both. The choice will depend on the circumstances of the participants, and will be influenced by certain taxation consderations, e.g. earned income relief, restrictions on directors' remuneration in close companies. Finacing is on the normal basis. When howerver a co-operative association is formed to provide a service or undertake certain operations for independent farm business, the choice of constitution is likely to be eiter a limited company having a co-operative constitution or an Industrial and Provident society. Again, tax considerations intruded, and the probable methods of financing are very different from those adopted for a trade carried on in common.     

嵌入视角下农民专业合作社的问题与对策

基于嵌入性视角来研究合作社问题的文献目前还比较少见。本文基于农民合作社成员嵌入性的角度,分析合作社发展中存在的问题,主要包括异质性问题、利益分配问题以及功能弱化问题,并且提出相应的对策建议。     

CO-ORDINATION STRATEGIES AND NON-MEMBERS' TRADE IN PROCESSING CO-OPERATIVES

This paper addresses three major issues set forth by LeVay (1983). These may be summarised as (1) the conflict of interests of the individual vis-à-vis the co-operative, (2) the arrange-ments or contract provisions which may be used to increase the efficiency of the co-operative, and (3) modelling of the co-operative trade with non-members and how members can derive maximum benefit from it.     

Land acquisition compensation in post-reform China: Evolution,structure and challenges in Hangzhou

This paper focuses on evolving land acquisition compensation policy and practice in Hangzhou, a better-developed coastal city in the Yangtze River Delta Region, by assessing the evolution of land acquisition compensation and the interplay among the main actors, especially the local government and affected individual villagers and rural collectives. It evaluates the hybrid compensation governance that includes monetary compensation, employment alternatives, share-holding co-operative, social security assurance, and rural collective retained land. The study reveals that while land acquisition compensation has been gradually improved in many aspects, land-lost villagers are still subject to various uncertainties in sustaining their lives, competing in the labor market, and adapting to urban life. Furthermore, markedly improved land acquisition compensation in Hangzhou has created newly emerging socio-economic problems amongst dislocated rural villagers. The paper reveals how different compensation measures have redefined rural collectives and land-lost rural villagers in the urbanization process.     

林农参与林业专业合作社的意愿与调查分析

基于对浙江省龙泉市林业专业合作社深入的调研进行实证分析。根据所得数据描述性的理论分析和统计分析结果构建的Probit模型对影响林农参与林业专业合作社的因素进行深入分析的结果表明:林农参与合作社的意愿受农户户主的年龄、林业收入占家庭总收入的比例、林产品销售问题、对林业专业合作社的了解程度等因素的影响。在此基础上,提出应该继续加强林业合作社的宣传工作、提高合作社的产品营销能力等发展农民专业合作社的相关对策建议。     

养殖户参与渔业专业合作社的意愿及影响因素——基于广西壮族自治区96户养殖户的调查分析

为了解我国淡水养殖户参与专业合作社意愿的影响因素,基于养殖户广西壮族自治区96户养殖户的调查数据,运用二元Logit模型对养殖户参与渔业专业合作社的意愿及其影响因素进行计量分析。结果表明:教育水平的影响达到了90%的显著水平;是否了解合作社,养殖历史和养殖面积达到了95%的显著水平;是否参加过职业培训和政府是否积极引导合作社的建立达到了99%的显著水平,以上是影响养殖户参与渔业专业合作社的关键因素。基于此,政府应加大对养殖户人力资本的投入并积极引导渔业合作社的建立,鼓励水产"大户"牵头创办专业合作社,鼓励养殖户加强交流与学习。     

FACTORS AFFECTING SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN FARMERS‘ CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS

This paper poses a number of questions such us: Why do we want farmers to co-operate? Who should benefit from co-operation—the community or the co-operators? What kind of (co-operative) organisation should be encouraged? It is suggested that marketing groups provide a link between farm and marketing which will be of increasing importance as the demands for produce become more specific. Groups are see as an expression of practical sociology and some ideas for dynamic group organisation are set out. An attempt is made to suggest to more logical approach to the use of grant aid. Arguments are presented in favour of the answers that co-operative organisation should grow upwards from busically small group beginnings; that co-operators are to be the primary beneficiaries and the co-operation is a suitable wuy of coping with the inherited structure of British agriculture.