Co-ops, or co-operatives, are assets, productive activities or
businesses owned by and responsible to those directly involved
-- either the consumers, the producers, or both. In many co-ops
the consumers also do some or all of the productive work -- as
when parents take turns caring for children in a child care co-op.
Housing co-ops are owned by the residents. Credit unions are user-owned
financial institutions. Virtually any economic activity or business
or ownership arrangement can be organized as a co-op. Co-ops help
keep economic power in the community.