The current cooperatives: an economic view

Abstract

First, this bibliographic study aims to achieve an economic analysis of law, checking the legal issues of using economic principles. Based on this situation, to verify the compatibility between economic values and social values, it was suggested a dialogue, in a second time with the cooperativism, its foundations and its premises. It appears that as old as the need to recognize the existence of rules of conduct guiding the social interaction between individuals, it is impossible to refute the fact that this society is also permeated by economic features. Moreover, the notion of Economic Analysis of Law (EAL) basically consists in addressing the legal issues from economic theory concepts, seeking a legal decision that meets the criteria of economic efficiency and rationality of agents, which tend to hold their rational choices in order, striving for alternatives that provide the maximum well-being at the lowest possible cost. It was concluded, so the traditional setting of the relationship between capital and labor does not seem to provide the maximization of wealth. If on one hand, there is the economic market basically structured in the form of large producers, on the other, there are individuals and small producers, which can achieve better economic efficiency by strengthening its cooperative practices.