The “business–territory” relationship of cooperative societies as compared to the conventional business sector in the region of Andalusia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify whether cooperativism in Andalusia is related to the territory in which it takes place. The discovery of a “cooperativism–territory” relationship is of particular interest, given Andalusia’s significant territorial diversity and the ability of cooperative societies to adapt to different surroundings. Noteworthy among the results is the greater connection shown by cooperative societies to the area in which they carry out their activities, compared with that seen in the conventional business sector. As such, cooperative societies are strategic entities in terms of responding and adapting to the evolution of certain localized social needs emerging in the region of Andalusia.