A Study on Member Participation and the Formation of Social Capital in Consumer Cooperatives

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13899
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 08010:Sociology-related
• Research Institution: Hannan University (2021-2024); Shujitsu University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: KAGAMI Taiki 阪南大学, 経営学部, 教授 (80734087)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 消費生活協同組合 / 流通 / 宅配 / 共同購入 / 社会関係資本

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on the research plan, I conducted a literature review and document analysis on member participation in consumer co-operatives (co-op), as well as on-site visits and questionnaire surveys. These efforts resulted in the completion of three academic papers. Additionally, I presented research findings at collaborative institutions that supported the site visits and surveys, and contributed other written pieces.
Through these papers and research presentations, I examined member participation in co-ops from the dual perspectives of business operations and social movements, clarifying its characteristics and significance.

Free Research Field

マーケティング論

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

消費生活協同組合（生協）の組合員参加について、事業と運動の両面から、その特徴と意義を論じた。生協の宅配事業は従来から社会関係資本の形成に貢献していたが、現在でもその傾向は確認できること、その際には生協との様々なかかわりの場の創出や、生協職員を通じた生協への信頼感醸成が重要であること等を明らかにした。