[josv]

I’m a member at a worker-owned mobile dev coop in Ottawa. (htttp://www.brierwoodapps.com)

I spent some time in grad school studying economics, and I've felt a bit like a mole on a couple of occasions, but I do think it’s a really interesting structure.

There’s definitely been some self-selection of members based on equality- and social-mindedness. Some of that expresses itself internally: There’s a lot of information sharing and support for professional development.

I think one of the great practical advantages is that it’s a structure without employee numbers. Every new employee is hired with the hope that they’ll stay on and become a full member-owner. The fact that every member is on the same footing as the founders can be pretty advantageous in a tight labour market when trying to bring on board talented developers who might otherwise prefer to work independently.