Areas of research

WIRC researchers adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of cooperatives. They have focused particularly on the following areas:

Sociology of social movements: Len Arthur and Tom Keenoy are developing the idea of ‘deviant mainstreaming’, exploring the way that marginalised ideas can influence the mainstream economy.

Political economy: WIRC has a specific policy interest in regeneration, especially in the Valleys of South Wales where Molly Scott Cato has conducted social and economic research. The importance of ownership and control of economic activity is summarised in the theory of capital anchoring which WIRC researchers are developing.

Institutional economics: Russell Smith uses the insights of the classical institutional economists to inform the current debate about the social economy, and emphasises especially the importance of the cooperative as an example of the human firm.