El cooperativismo como una mejor opción de vida: el caso de la Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Jardín Azuayo. Cuenca-Ecuador

Abstract

Cooperativism has become an organizational alternative to confront the capitalist and neoliberal practices that have led to great crises, where accumulation, individualism and the interrelationships of human beings are determined in strictly material terms. This form of organization arises inspired by values that are concretized in practice through cooperative principles. However, these principles are threatened, since cooperatives in general, and savings and credit cooperatives in particular, must comply with regulations that do not differentiate them from private banks. This is a worrying situation, since they have to respond to financial objectives, neglecting the applicability of cooperative principles, especially the principle of cooperative education, the dissemination of information and the training of their members. In view of this situation, this research analyzes the application of cooperative principles by members, workers and managers of the Jardín Azuayo Savings and Loan Cooperative in Cuenca. For this purpose, a mixed methodology (quantitative-qualitative) was applied, which allowed the use of techniques such as surveys and interviews. A stratified random sampling with proportional allocation was defined, reaching a total of 267 members (7.49% managers, 41.20% employees and 51.31% members) of which 120 belong to the male gender and 147 to the female gender, belonging to the urban (192) and rural (75) areas. The interviews were conducted with a sample of 12 people (members, workers and managers) defined through a pro convenience sample, which allowed saturating the information on the subject. The results show that the application of cooperative principles by members, workers and managers of the Jardín Azuayo Savings and Loan Cooperative is very high, with emphasis on the principles of free and voluntary participation, education, training and information, commitment to the community, cooperation among cooperatives, democratic control, autonomy and independence, and economic contributions; however, the application of the principle of distribution and redistribution of profits is not strongly perceived. Regarding the applicability of cooperative principles, it is evident that managers have a higher level of «cooperation factor (cooperative learning)» than partners and employees. On the other hand, it is shown that there is a positive and significant relationship between all the sub-dimensions of cooperative learning, the cooperation factor and the practices of cooperative principles, with the exception of the principle of economic participation of members. Data that allow us to conclude that the Jardín Azuayo Cooperative demonstrates a high applicability of the cooperative principles and practices strengthened by the training processes and the implementation of cooperative learning in its partners, workers and managers. However, this situation is in permanent danger in a marked context of uncertainty generated in the individualistic and capitalist system.