It’s an operation which is conducted together by multiple entities (individuals, authorities, countries, international organisations) for achieving a certain goal. Economic activities inspired by collaboration and solidarity.

The idea of cooperation was created, in the early 19th century, as opposed to the capitalist economy, based on competition and individual property. It gave rise to an important movement, during the 20th century, that caused the distribution of cooperative enterprises in every sector of the economy: from selling the consumer goods to producing them, from insurances to banks, from construction industry to social services.