Material Information |
| Title: |
The Cooperative Advantage Theoretical Demonstration of the Case for Increased Productivity |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Ward, Daniel C. |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2009 |
| Publication Date: |
2009 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Worker Cooperatives
Incentives
Principal-Agent
Attribute Analysis |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
The idea of cooperation has always been at the center of economics, both as a foundation for the discipline and its ability to innovate human society continually. However, despite the importance of cooperation, the study of economics has often sought reasoning to undermine the notion of organizing firms under an explicitly cooperative structure. Understanding what a cooperative entails and how it serves the respective interests of worker and firm prove invaluable to discussing it in an economic context. This thesis will explore some possible avenues of economic theory that can support the idea that a cooperative firm increases the productivity of labor relative to a conventional firm. Necessary to obtain optimal productivity in any firm are the alignment of principal and agent incentives, so as to deter inefficiency costs that occur as a result of noncooperative behavior. Principal agent problems regarding decision and investment incentives are the two most relevant to the cooperative firm. I employ models of expected utility and attribute analysis to elucidate how these problems could be addressed in an abstract cooperative firm. I conclude that the models support the claim that a cooperative imperative must exist, realized in the formation of the cooperative firm, in order to increase productivity of labor. The thesis ends by advocating that economics continue exploring the viability of cooperative firms in all types of economic markets. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Daniel C. Ward |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2009 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Elliot, Catherine |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2009 W2 |
| System ID: |
NCFE004192:00001 |
|
Material Information |
| Title: |
The Cooperative Advantage Theoretical Demonstration of the Case for Increased Productivity |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Ward, Daniel C. |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2009 |
| Publication Date: |
2009 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Worker Cooperatives
Incentives
Principal-Agent
Attribute Analysis |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
The idea of cooperation has always been at the center of economics, both as a foundation for the discipline and its ability to innovate human society continually. However, despite the importance of cooperation, the study of economics has often sought reasoning to undermine the notion of organizing firms under an explicitly cooperative structure. Understanding what a cooperative entails and how it serves the respective interests of worker and firm prove invaluable to discussing it in an economic context. This thesis will explore some possible avenues of economic theory that can support the idea that a cooperative firm increases the productivity of labor relative to a conventional firm. Necessary to obtain optimal productivity in any firm are the alignment of principal and agent incentives, so as to deter inefficiency costs that occur as a result of noncooperative behavior. Principal agent problems regarding decision and investment incentives are the two most relevant to the cooperative firm. I employ models of expected utility and attribute analysis to elucidate how these problems could be addressed in an abstract cooperative firm. I conclude that the models support the claim that a cooperative imperative must exist, realized in the formation of the cooperative firm, in order to increase productivity of labor. The thesis ends by advocating that economics continue exploring the viability of cooperative firms in all types of economic markets. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Daniel C. Ward |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2009 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Elliot, Catherine |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2009 W2 |
| System ID: |
NCFE004192:00001 |
|