The current capitalist phase is unbalanced on the financial side: capital allocation systems have progressively moved away from the real economy and are no longer performing effectively and efficiently their function. The renewal of financial intermediation must therefore go through the promotion of an economy where the value derives from relationships as well. This entails a new conception and a redesign of finance, where negative and positive externalities are included in the estimate of produced value, favoring social value and surplus with respect to a private one. All these themes will be analyzed during the workshop.

Through the years the participation in this scientific workshop, of many scholars and young researchers from all over the world, contributed to enrich the debate on the role of cooperative finance in facing the crisis, highlighting the ability of cooperative banks in supporting and boosting local economies.