MEMBER PSYCHOLOGICAL OWNERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY OF URBAN PRIMARY CONSUMER COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract This research analyses the relationship between psychological ownership and sustainability of urban primary consumer cooperatives operating in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia the concept of psychological ownership is not well studied especially on cooperatives. This study attempts to fill the gap by analyzing the relationship between member psychological ownership and sustainability of urban primary consumer cooperatives. Member psychological ownership was measured using member accountability, self-efficacy, sense of place/belongingness, self-identity and territoriality. Current study employed a survey research design to investigate the hypothesized relationships. Data were collected from 384 randomly selected members of urban primary consumer cooperatives in Bahir Dar, Adama, and Addis Ababa using a two-stage cluster sampling procedure, representing a target population of 118,538 members across 275 cooperatives. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) served as the primary data analysis technique. SEM allowed for the assessment of the direct relationships between member psychological ownership – measured through dimensions of accountability, self-efficacy, sense of place/belongingness, self-identity, and territoriality – and the sustainability of these cooperatives. Results revealed positive significant relationship between member psychological ownership and sustainability of urban primary consumer cooperatives. These findings highlight the practical importance of fostering a strong sense of ownership among members.