The aim of this article is to evaluate the policies carried out by the Government of Ecuador regarding the management of natural resources in the context of the Revolución Ciudadana, which was designed to create a society based on Buen Vivir. The choice of intensifying the mining sector shows a change in the government’s philosophy (from Sumak Kawsay to neo-extractivism) and requires an analysis that highlights the possible risks outlined by the extensive literature on the Resource Curse Hypothesis. This article analyzes the conditions, which are essential for avoiding the Resource Curse Hypothesis, in order to assess the economic effectiveness of the change of perspective, operated, under the Revolución Ciudadana

The purpose of this contribution is to photograph and describe, with reasonable accuracy and beginning from the territorial, time and sectoral distribution, the Italian cooperative universe in all its main economic, size and qualitative variables. In the light of the economic crisis triggered by the present epidemic, the mapping work also takes on a further importance in outlining a perspective of analyses on the future impacts of the recession, on the resilience of the cooperative movement and on the role it will be able to play in counteracting the decline in industry and employment.

We have carried out an empirical study of WBOs in Italy since 1985, describing the role of two key institutions -the legal framework and the cooperative associations. WBO operations were officially recognized in 1985 by the Italian policy-maker. The research has led to establishing a sample, wider than any previously done in Italy, resulting from the analysis of data collected by the Legacoop's Area Studi and provided by the main actors in the promotion and financing of WBOs (Cooperazione Finanza Impresa, COOPFOND, Federazione Trentina della Cooperazione) and the data published by Banca Etica and the Italian Network of Recovered Companies. This has led to being able to closely study the effectiveness and features of WBOs in Italy. We found that longer lifespans and higher rates of activity are associated with the membership of a cooperative association. The sectoral and geographic analysis confirms the c onclusions of previous studies, highlighting a clear concentration of WBOs in the Central and North-Eastern regions of Italy and in the manufacturing sector. The average lifespan of the co-operatives, as well as the survival rate, proves the positive economic and social impact of WBOs in times of crisis. The findings have implications that go beyond Italy. We conclude discussing the importance of an appropriate legal framework supporting WBOs and the importance of cooperative associations, including their financial branches.

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