The Importance of Co-Operatives to the New Zealand Economy: Constructing a Co-Operative Economy

Posted: 22 Jun 2017

Date Written: June 21, 2017

Abstract

This paper measures the size of New Zealand’s co-operative sector, in terms of its direct contribution to output and employment as well as its indirect impact. The findings here are based on data derived largely from surveying the co-operative sector in 2012. It revises prior and incomplete estimates produced by Statistics New Zealand using a value added methodology and those available through the International Cooperative Alliance, based on earlier estimates provided by the New Zealand Co-operative Association. Our estimates on direct and indirect output and employment suggest that the cooperative sector is much larger, even in its direct impact on the economy than the prior estimates indicate. Internationally, there is an increasing demand for more rigorous estimates on the importance of the cooperative sector. Currently, estimates remain of a tentative nature. This paper is an effort to address the statistical gaps in the literature.

Keywords: Co-ops, Measuring co-op economy, Value added, Employment, New Zealand

JEL Classification: C8, O50, 056, P13

Suggested Citation

Altman, Morris, The Importance of Co-Operatives to the New Zealand Economy: Constructing a Co-Operative Economy (June 21, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2990326 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2990326

Morris Altman (Contact Author)

University of Dundee ( email )

Nethergate
Dundee, DD1 4HN
United Kingdom

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