The impact of the economic crisis on Italian cooperatives in the industrial sector

The economic crisis has brought about renewed interest in co-operatives, not only among academics but also among members of society in general. Co-operatives are viewed as an alternative to the capitalist business model, which has long prevailed in the industrial sector. In addition, co-operatives are seen as a possible way in which companies in crisis can be reorganized so that people affected by the unemployment crisis can be reintegrated. Recent studies have demonstrated that in the face of negative shocks, co-operatives tend to decrease employment to a lesser extent than other types of organizations. Considering these premises, this study aims to analyze the economic situation of Italian co-operatives that operated in the industrial and supports service sector during the 2008–2010 period. The study aims to compare co-operatives to other forms of enterprises regarding the effects of the economic crisis on employment levels, economic performance, investment, and research and development. The study uses survey data from a sample of more than 25,000 Italian enterprises in the industrial and support services sector, including 3000 co-operatives. The survey provides a detailed view of the structure and key factors related to production and the competitiveness of enterprises.