André Leclerc

Un siècle d'histoire coopérative à travers les statistiques de l'A.C.I.

Many authors have studied the quantitative evolution of the cooperative movement but their analysis was generally limited to a sector, a region or a specific period of time. Thanks to a collection by A. Leclerc (Moncton University, Canada) of all statistical information in possession of the International Cooperative Alliance, this study can rely on an exceptional database relating to the number of members affiliated to ICA since 1896. On the basis of this inventory, the authors try to determine the main orientations of the cooperative membership evolution over a period of nearly a century. In this article most of the results are presented by splitting the studied period into four development phases of the worldwide cooperative movement.

A Methodology for the Evaluation of the Economic Impacts of Wind Energy Projects

In this paper, a methodology for the evaluation of the economic impacts of wind energy projects is presented. With an application to the Canadian setting, the methodology is based on modified input-output techniques using national/provincial economic Input-Output tables and multiplier coefficients. The model makes use of a profile of investment for a generic 100 MW wind energy project based on publicly available financial data from current wind energy projects developed and operating in Canada. Subsequently, a case study of the economic impact assessment for both the construction and operations phases of a generic 100 MW wind farm project constructed and operated in the province of New Brunswick, Canada is performed. Results show that in total, including direct, indirect and induced jobs, the construction phase could create a total of 225 person-years of labour, while the operations and maintenance phase could create a total of 17 person-years of labour annually.

Estimation des Économies D'échelle et de gamme dans de petites coopératives de services financiers: le cas des caisses populaires acadiennes

This study uses accounting data stemming from 80 credit unions affiliated to the “Federation des caisses populaires acadiennes” to estimate a multi-product translog cost function with the aim to test for the presence of scale and scope economies. The cost model relies on the production approach and the financial services are gathered in four categories of products. The model is completed by three inputs and one control variable, the latter being used to capture the heterogeneity of costs arising from the average wealth of membership. Since the estimated output elasticity of the total cost, 0.89, is statistically less than one, the models detect quite important scale economies. As to scope economies, they are present but the coefficients are weakly significant.