We live in a complex and globalized world plagued by inequality, where many suffer from exclusion. The evolution of our societies has failed to stop the growth of these inequalities, and financial and economic crises only widen the gap between rich and poor.

In this world capable of great technological progress, how is it that millions of people are still threatened by hunger, lack access to water, and live in extreme poverty without health care or social services?

How can we accept that opulence coexists with misery in rich countries? How can we accept that worldwide, the wealthiest 1% have more than the poorest 90%?

Build a social and solidarity economy We were fortunate to welcome a renowned speaker to the Summit, Joseph Stiglitz, economist, Nobel prize winner, professor at Columbia University, and author of bestseller The Price of Inequality.

According to Mr. Stiglitz, in order to improve the lives of all individuals, we must rethink society and build a strong economy based on solidarity and social justice.

That means we have to rethink our economic model by focusing on the cooperative business model, which yields tangible results that can be measured not only in terms of the GDP, but also by our indices of community well-being.

In fact, the cooperative approach is most likely to improve the well-being of our communities and the people within them. Large cooperative organizations know that. Small ones as well.

Cooperation as a solution to economic challenges Economists like those we heard at the Summit today increasingly see our business model as a solution to the great economic challenges. Even private companies are starting to consider a more cooperative reorganization of their business.

It’s never been a better time to promote the cooperative model. We must seize this opportunity, because we have the power to act to redirect our economy towards a more cooperative model.

I will leave you with some inspiring words from Howard Brodsky, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of CCA Global Partners, one of the largest cooperatives in the United States, who’s participating in the Summit:

We cooperatives are agents of change towards a stronger, fairer, more sustainable world… simply put, a better world!