--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Worker-owned co-ops, on their own…" description: "\"Worker-owned co-ops, on their own, floating in the market, tend to replicate the behavior of worker-owned capitalists in some circumstances. They somet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/gar-alperovitz-25589_attitude_worker-owned-co-ops-on-their-own-floatin_522648.png" --- # Worker-owned co-ops, on their own, floating in the market… ![“Worker-owned co-ops, on their own, floating in the market, tend to replicate the behavior of worker-owned capitalists in some circumstances. They sometimes develop positive participatory schemes, sometimes not. We know from the studies of worker-owned plywood companies in the US, they can tend to…” quote by Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/gar-alperovitz-25589_attitude_worker-owned-co-ops-on-their-own-floatin_522648.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/gar-alperovitz-25589_attitude_worker-owned-co-ops-on-their-own-floatin_522648.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/gar-alperovitz-25589_attitude_worker-owned-co-ops-on-their-own-floatin_522648.png) > “Worker-owned co-ops, on their own, floating in the market, tend to replicate the behavior of worker-owned capitalists in some circumstances. They sometimes develop positive participatory schemes, sometimes not. We know from the studies of worker-owned plywood companies in the US, they can tend to develop conservative attitudes, not socialist attitudes. So even though I'm an advocate of further democratization of the workplace, we also need to be building larger structures.” [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Worker co-ops often mimic capitalist behavior and may become conservative, showing that small-scale democracy isn’t enough without larger supportive structures. **In simple terms:** Co-ops can become like traditional firms. Key Takeaway Build broader democratic frameworks. Themes economics democracy cooperatives Mood critical analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - business strategy - policy design - community organizing Key Concepts social theory political economy organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - What larger structures can support genuine workplace democracy? - How can co-ops retain progressive values? A Different Perspective Co-ops alone may not shift systemic attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Democratization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratization/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) [Socialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialist/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workplace/) ## Related quotes > [If you have worker-owned and worker-managed enterprises, you've got a different sociopolitical system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-have-worker-owned-and-worker-managed-enterprises-you-ve-got-a/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [What Qatar chose is a system where a worker is owned by his employer. When your employer forces you to live in squalor, makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharan-burrow/what-qatar-chose-is-a-system-where-a-worker-is-owned-by-his-employer/) [Sharan Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharan-burrow/) > [Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/literacy-is-a-bridge-from-misery-to-hope-it-is-a-tool-for-daily-life/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In the new music landscape, with is the democratization of the internet and music in general, I think it can be a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-grenier/in-the-new-music-landscape-with-is-the-democratization-of-the/) [Adrian Grenier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-grenier/) > [I tend to be one of those who does not equate democratization with the holding of elections. The emphasis ought to be on such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-tend-to-be-one-of-those-who-does-not-equate-democratization-with/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope... Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/literacy-is-a-bridge-from-misery-to-hope-especially-for-girls-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The commercialization of sport is the democratization of sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/the-commercialization-of-sport-is-the-democratization-of-sport/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [“Most Romans believed that their system of government was the finest political invention of the human mind. Change was inconceivable. Indeed, the constitution's various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-everitt/most-romans-believed-that-their-system-of-government-was-the-finest/) [Anthony Everitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-everitt/) > [Journalism has changed tremendously because of the democratization of information. Anybody can put something up on the Internet. It's harder and harder to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/journalism-has-changed-tremendously-because-of-the-democratization-of/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/for-everyone-everywhere-literacy-is-along-with-education-in-general-a/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“The Internet has long been heralded as an unprecedented instrument of democratization and liberalization, even emancipation. But in the eyes of the US government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-internet-has-long-been-heralded-as-an-unprecedented-instrument-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I think in the old music, everything was so competitive. It was all about - very selfish in a lot of ways. The label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-grenier/i-think-in-the-old-music-everything-was-so-competitive-it-was-all/) [Adrian Grenier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-grenier/) > [The web is not going to change the world, certainly not in the next 10 years. It's going to augment the world. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-web-is-not-going-to-change-the-world-certainly-not-in-the-next-10/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The democratization of news is fine and splendid, but it's not reporting. It's based on a fragment of information picked up from television or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/the-democratization-of-news-is-fine-and-splendid-but-it-s-not/) [Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/) > [Liberalization and democratization are in essence counter-revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-grechko/liberalization-and-democratization-are-in-essence-counter-revolution/) Andrei Grechko ## More by Gar Alperovitz > [“But if the system is the problem, the truth is that there will not be satisfactory answers in the here and now for lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/but-if-the-system-is-the-problem-the-truth-is-that-there-will-not-be/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [“… our nation's truly critical problems are built into the very structure of the economic and political system; they are not something passing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/our-nation-s-truly-critical-problems-are-built-into-the-very/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [We've been following many forms of democratized ownership, starting with co-ops, land banks at the neighborhood level, municipal ownership and state ownership of banks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/we-ve-been-following-many-forms-of-democratized-ownership-starting/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [As we move toward the pluralist commonwealth, economic interventions that stabilize communities - for instance by localizing the flows of goods and services or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/as-we-move-toward-the-pluralist-commonwealth-economic-interventions/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [Finding ways to organize work in which people are not locked into unequal power relationships is very important. Having said that, it's not easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/finding-ways-to-organize-work-in-which-people-are-not-locked-into/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [For 40 years, my argument has been that democratizing ownership of wealth has been the key to egalitarian society and the goals of egalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/for-40-years-my-argument-has-been-that-democratizing-ownership-of/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [In America, we need to go forward in nationalizing several large corporations: I think that's possible; we nationalized General Motors; we nationalized several of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/in-america-we-need-to-go-forward-in-nationalizing-several-large/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [Parecon is a very tough-minded economic vision and model, and it sets a standard for us to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/parecon-is-a-very-tough-minded-economic-vision-and-model-and-it-sets/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [We need to learn to listen to what the people need and want and not try to impose on them a whole schema that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/we-need-to-learn-to-listen-to-what-the-people-need-and-want-and-not/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [There are areas using what's called the "checkerboard strategy." They are different cities where you can move around the "checkerboard," doing things you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/there-are-areas-using-what-s-called-the-checkerboard-strategy-they/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [Internationally, there are countries going well beyond the course, with airlines, transportation. There are systems around the world that have explored mining, rail transport,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/internationally-there-are-countries-going-well-beyond-the-course-with/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [There has been a change in consciousness that makes this one of the most interesting periods of American history, maybe the most interesting. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/there-has-been-a-change-in-consciousness-that-makes-this-one-of-the/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [The top 400 people own more wealth now than the bottom 185 million Americans taken together. That is a medieval structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/the-top-400-people-own-more-wealth-now-than-the-bottom-185-million/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [I am interested in the political economy of institutional power relationships in transition. The question is one of "reconstructive" communities as a cultural, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/i-am-interested-in-the-political-economy-of-institutional-power/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [Worker ownership is only one form of democratizing ownership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/worker-ownership-is-only-one-form-of-democratizing-ownership/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) [Explore all 22 Gar Alperovitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Worker-owned co-ops, on their own, floating in the market, tend to replicate the behavior of worker-owned capitalists in some circumstances. They sometimes develop positive participatory schemes, sometimes not. 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