Cooperatives: Principles and Practices in the 21st Century
The book “Cooperatives: Principles and Practices in the 21st Century” is the fourth and most extensive revision of the original publication by Marvin A. Schaars from the University of Wisconsin Extension—Madison. It was first published in July 1980 and originally written in 1936 by Chris L. Christensen, Asher Hobson, Henry Bakken, R.K. Froker, and Marvin Schaars, all faculty in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.
The book has since become a fundamental reference for cooperative members, leaders, instructors, and development specialists. It provides straightforward information on cooperative organization, structure, financing, and management, which remains relevant today.
This updated version reflects over two decades of cooperative development and incorporates new cooperative laws and business practices to make the book even more useful. Although the book is US-focused and references the agricultural sector, its content is applicable to cooperatives worldwide, across different sectors.