Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics最新文献

This study attempts to examine the effect of women's participation in self-help groups (SHGs) on their financial inclusion levels. A comprehensive financial inclusion index is created specifically suited to women by incorporating the concept of ‘autonomy’ in the usage of financial services. Adding this indicator with access and usage improves the practical effectiveness of women's financial inclusion as a means to a larger end. Further, objective weights have been assigned to the financial inclusion indicators through the application of the Criteria Importance through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC) method. The effect estimation is examined using propensity score matching (PSM) to gauge a true effect assessment free from self-selection bias. The results are also checked for robustness using inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA). Drawing primary data from 450 respondents from the Barak Valley region of Assam, the study establishes the importance of ‘autonomy’ in determining women's financial inclusion and finds SHG participation to be effective in enhancing the holistic financial inclusion of women. Underscoring the potential of SHGs in the upliftment of women, the study recommends regular monitoring of existing SHGs, besides expansion policies, to prevent group inactivity. To enhance women's financial autonomy, it is also suggested to conduct frequent training programmes on rights awareness, boosting self-efficacy for financial management and self-sufficiency in addressing financial challenges.

This study examines the influence of gender on the selection of business models within the social and solidarity economy (SSE), focusing on women's preference for collaborative and socially oriented business models that can promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey in Galicia, Spain, the research highlights that women entrepreneurs are more attracted to the SSE because of its emphasis on generating social value rather than direct economic benefit. Gender differences are significant, with women showing greater alignment with SSE principles than men. These results underscore the importance of public policies designed to support female entrepreneurship in the SSE, recognizing women's potential to contribute to economic growth through sustainable practices. The study enhances the understanding of gender dynamics in entrepreneurship, offering valuable insights into how a gender perspective can enrich the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the SSE and inform the development of targeted support strategies that promote economic development, job creation and social well-being.

This paper assesses the impact of the level of cooperatives’ vertical integration on the financial performance of smallholder rice farmers in the North Central province, Sri Lanka. A sample of 309 smallholder rice farmers was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. The sample represented 152 partially and 157 fully integrated smallholder rice farmers who are members of partially and fully vertically integrated cooperatives, respectively. The propensity score matching technique was applied to correct for potential selection biases. Three financial performance indicators: cost of production, operating profit and sales revenue have been used. Results show better financial performance for the farmers who are members of fully integrated cooperatives except for the cost of production. They receive higher operating profit and sales revenue than those farmers who are members of partially integrated cooperatives. However, the cost of production remains more comparable for both groups of farmers. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that the smallholders can enhance their financial performance through cooperatives that are fully vertically integrated.

Australia had adopted a novel approach to e-cigarette policy by requiring a physician's prescription to lawfully obtain nicotine e-cigarettes. We conducted an online discrete choice experiment to gauge how adult Australian smokers made hypothetical choices between cigarettes, prescription e-cigarettes, non-prescription e-cigarettes and quitting. We estimate a mixed logit model, which allows us to predict the market shares under different policy scenarios. The mixed logit model also provides estimates of consumer willingness to pay for the benefits from the prescription status of e-cigarettes and the costs of illegal e-cigarette markets. We estimate that the average utility loss from an illegal retail market is worth AU$7.90 per pack equivalent. We use the corresponding estimates of the compensating variations in income to conduct cost–benefit analyses of possible reforms to Australian e-cigarette regulation. In aggregate, we estimate that the benefits of allowing but not requiring prescriptions of e-cigarettes are AU$1.8 billion per year. Our paper provides a novel contribution to research on e-cigarette regulation and provides a case study for the policy implementation in Australia. Our paper is also part of our research agenda to explore and develop methods to conduct policy analysis and cost–benefit analysis of regulatory policies that might create illegal markets.

This study aims to investigate the influence of social capital on perceived social mobility (PSM) at the individual level. Although evidence exists regarding both the relationship between social capital and actual mobility and about the social capital's influence on individual perceptions, the literature lacks evidence on the possible behavioural aspects related to its influence on the perception of such mobility. Employing data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey, representing citizens from 63 countries, this study shows that individuals’ social interactions in voluntary associations are significantly related to personal values, particularly the belief in meritocracy and the role of individual effort to obtain success. Consistently with prominent studies highlighting the potential heterogeneous effects of social capital on personal attitudes and behaviours, this research provides evidence that bridging social interactions positively influences the perception of a more mobile and meritocratic society, whereas volunteering in bonding groups may hamper PSM. The size of these effects may depend on the contextual framework because the externalities created by bridging social capital outweigh those of bonding in wealthier countries.

There are few empirical explanations for the decreasing number of cooperatives in the agricultural sector. To address the gap in the literature, we investigate the incidence of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and liquidations and dissolutions (L&Ds) among more than 1000 farmer cooperatives in the United States for the 2010–2020 period by means of survival analysis within a competing risk framework. According to our novel results, M&As are more common than L&Ds, corresponding to exit strategies of larger farmer cooperatives to achieve scale and scope economies. The incidence of L&Ds is almost entirely driven by size as relatively small cooperatives are more at risk. Implications and future research directions are discussed in the conclusion.

Although research on the impacts of agricultural cooperatives is growing, studies on the effects of dairy cooperative membership on food security in developing countries remain scarce. This article follows the same line of inquiry to determine the impact of dairy cooperative membership on food and nutrition security (household dietary diversity score and food insecurity experience score) using data from 515 rural dairy farmers in Zambia. To account for selection bias issues, we use the endogenous switching Poisson regression model supplemented with the Poisson regression with endogenous treatment and machine learning techniques. Results indicate that age, education, dairy farming experience and participation in seminars on cooperatives positively influence dairy cooperative membership. Conversely, higher milk prices at collection centres are associated with a decreased likelihood of cooperative membership. We find that dairy cooperative membership increases dietary diversity and food security for a dairy farmer and dairy cooperative members as well as the non-members if they joined dairy cooperatives. Further, dairy cooperative membership increases food and nutrition security for dairy farmers who join cooperatives because they are nearby. Collectively, our results support increased dairy cooperative development in rural areas to improve food and nutrition security of rural dwellers in developing countries.

The study investigates the potential welfare effect of basic income support (BIS) in reducing poverty and inequality in South Africa. Using the 2017 labour force survey and a benefit incidence analysis, we consider three BIS scenarios: (i) universal income support for those aged between 18 and 59; (ii) only those who are unemployed receive the benefit; and (iii) only unemployed individuals in extremely poor households defined by the food poverty line receive the benefit. Results show that BIS can reduce poverty and inequality. However, the specific effects of the BIS will depend on the targeting scenario considered. The universal BIS is more costly and has higher leakage, with more benefits going to the non-poor. However, this universal support has the biggest overall impact on poverty and inequality reduction because more South Africans receive income support under this scenario. Meanwhile, targeting only the unemployed and the impoverished makes the BIS more pro-poor and progressive, as well as mitigating the leakage of the benefit to the non-poor. This would, however, require that an appropriate targeting mechanism be in place.

The competitiveness of Catalan agri-food cooperatives is studied from a new point of view, their internationalization and specifically the effects on internationalization due to the adoption of quality certifications. Most of the previous research focuses on organizational, economic and commercial aspects, and there are few works linking both fields. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to analyse the behaviour of the relationship between internationalization and certification. For this purpose, the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test for two independent samples and boxplot analysis were used. The results of this research show a positive relationship between different certification systems and internationalization. Empirical evidence was found: Exporting cooperatives that adopt ISO 9001 or a production system certification have a higher export intensity and geographical diversification than those that do not adopt it.

Most of South Sudan's rural population ekes out a living from farming in a fragile context characterized by compounding and interrelated shocks. The productivity of maize, a key staple, has remained comparatively low. South Sudan is currently transforming its agricultural sector to be at the centre of its economic activity. Programming has zoomed in on seed-related interventions. Cooperatives, which are longstanding and widespread in the country, are leveraged to distribute seed and, by mitigating production risk, could contribute to resilient development. To shed light on the key functions of cooperatives and how their role can be enhanced, we analysed recent data from 1247 maize-producing households and 126 agricultural cooperatives from South Sudan. We find that through their services cooperatives contribute to both increasing maize yields and reducing their variability. Yield increases associated with seed production and/or distribution services are substantial but exclusive to members. Managerial capital in the form of a hired manager instead also generates spillover effects to the broader community. Our findings point to the relevance of cooperatives as indispensable stakeholders for the resilient development of the country and the need for investments to strengthen their managerial capital and enhance the provision of services related to seed production and/or distribution.