engleski

Economic Contribution Montana Cooperatives Make to the State Economy

Cooperatives are an important and popular form of business organization in Montana. Cooperatives have been long viewed as important business in the agricultural sector of the state. Not all cooperatives in Montana are farm realted, with many other sectors of the economy being represented in this type of business structure. The list includes such diverse areas as electric generation and transmission, telephone, rural water, credit and finance, food purchasing and child day-care cooperatives. Measuring the economic contribution of cooperatives to the state's economy can provide an indication of how this type of business structure adds to the state's economy in terms of key indicators. This study will not look at a specific industry, but rather includes all industries organized under the cooperative business structures. Cooperatives throughout Montana are valued by citizens, in general, for their purpose within the state economy ; however, a clear estimate of their economic contribution to the state's economy has never been conducted. This research project provides estimates of the contribution Montana cooperatives make to the state's economy measured in terms of such key economic indicators as retail trade, personal income, total business activity, employment, and tax revenue.

cooperatives; economic contribution; state economy; Montana

Financial support for this study was provided by the Montana Cooperative Development Center, Great Falls, Montana and the Montana Council of Cooperatives, Great Falls, Montana