Raifeissen's Footprint

Cooperative banks have weathered the current financial crisis relatively well. In most countries, they did not need government support, their losses were comparatively small and they are seen as safe havens by clients and markets alike. This is not a new phenomenon, as earlier crises show similar patterns. These developments have resulted in renewed interest in cooperative banking. In this volume, the reader can find reflections on the cooperative business model and the governance structures of cooperative banks. It also contains a series of case studies of cooperative banks in times of crisis. As this book fills a gap in the academic literature, which has neglected cooperative business models for a long time, it is a necessary read for anyone who is interested in the functioning of banking systems.Dr. Joke Mooij is company historian at Rabobank Nederland, Utrecht. Dr. Wim Boonstra is chief economist Rabobank Nederland, Utrecht, Lecturer in Money and Banking, VU University, Amsterdam, and President of the Monetary Commission of the European League of Economic Cooperation, Brussels.VU University PressISBN 9789086596164