Editing Cooperative (section)

==== Social cooperative ====
{{Main|Social cooperative}}

Cooperatives traditionally combine social benefit interests with capitalistic property-right interests. Cooperatives achieve a mix of social and capital purposes by democratically governing distribution questions by and between equal but not controlling members. Democratic oversight of decisions to equitably distribute assets and other benefits means capital ownership is arranged in a way for social benefit inside the organization. External societal benefit is also encouraged by incorporating the operating-principle of cooperation between co-operatives. In the final year of the 20th century, cooperatives banded together to establish a number of [[social enterprise]] agencies that have moved to adopt the multi-stakeholder cooperative model. In the years 1994–2009 the EU and its member nations gradually revised national accounting systems to "make visible" the increasing contribution of [[social economy]] organizations.<ref>Monzon, J. L. & Chaves, R. (2008) "The European Social Economy: Concept and Dimensions of the Third Sector", ''Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics'', 79(3/4): 549–577.</ref>

A particularly successful form of multi-stakeholder cooperative is the Italian "social cooperative", of which some 11,000 exist.<ref>In 2011 the official total was 11,264: ISTAT, ''9° Censimento dell'industria e dei servizi'' (Roma, 2011)</ref> "Type A" social cooperatives bring together providers and beneficiaries of a social service as members. "Type B" social cooperatives bring together permanent workers and previously unemployed people who wish to integrate into the labor market. They are legally defined as follows:
* no more than 80% of profits may be distributed, interest is limited to the bond rate, and dissolution is altruistic (assets may not be distributed)
* the cooperative has legal personality and limited liability
* the objective is the general benefit of the community and the social integration of citizens
* those of type B integrate disadvantaged people into the labour market. The categories of disadvantage they target may include physical and mental disability, drug and alcohol addiction, developmental disorders and problems with the law. They do not include other factors of disadvantage such as unemployment, race, sexual orientation or abuse.
* type A cooperatives provide health, social or educational services
* various categories of stakeholder may become members, including paid employees, beneficiaries, volunteers (up to 50% of members), financial investors and public institutions. In type B cooperatives at least 30% of the members must be from the disadvantaged target groups
* voting is one person one vote