After reviewing the history of customer-owned banks in several countries, Birchall (social policy, Stirling U., UK) assesses the performance of cooperative banks, credit unions, and building
societies during the recent financial crisis, identifies their advantages and disadvantages for customer-members and the wider society, and presents evidence from behavioral sciences
illuminating the circumstances under which members are motivated to participate. The conclusion argues that customer-owned banks have proved they are a viable alternative to the investor-owned
banks that have so far ＂failed to serve the real economy.＂ Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
