Unraveling agricultural cooperatives’ performance measurement: a literature review

Abstract

Cooperatives are a widely prevalent organizational form in the agrifood sector that have been extensively examined in the literature. The primary objective of this literature review is to evaluate approaches taken in studying the performance of these organizations, with a specific focus on whether these analyses have duly recognized the multifaceted nature of cooperatives, characterized by having multiple objectives. Second, the review examines research comparing cooperatives with other types of organizations to ascertain whether, despite operating in the same markets, such analyses have acknowledged that these organizations pursue vastly different objectives. Finally, this literature review also ascertains whether studies have considered the influence of organizational innovations (e.g. allowing capitalist investors or share transferability) on cooperatives’ performance. Correctly approximating how to measure the performance of agrifood cooperatives is critical to understanding their success and evolution and, significantly, whether they benefit from innovations in property rights and governance.