roryridleyduff

Hi, Some might take this view. Purists in the co-operative movement might see this as a watering down of the socialism they advocate because the model rules encourage both collective and individual ownership, and pay dividends on shareholdings. This is a concession to those dependant on financial capital (relative to the typical co-operative ownership model), and a recognition that some individual ownership improves the incentive of individual members to invest in their own enterprise. There is also encouragement for surplus sharing, and a tolerance towards the trading of shares. This model is, however, quite strongly influenced by the work of Alec Nove (author of 'The Economics of Feasible Socialism' in the 1980s). He was an active critic of both the Soviet State system and a market economy driven mainly by voting power based on capital investments. He searched for forms of ownership and control that put a workforce back in control of decision-making. His brand of thinking is called 'market socialism' in some circles. Best wishes Rory Ridley-Duff Author