Analyses of Economic - Social Effects of Rural Hand-Made Carpet Cooperatives in Hamadan Province

Rural hand-made carpet cooperatives established with the aim of supporting the deprived and productive of carpet weavers of country and organizing them in the cooperative discipline system for accessing social and economic justice in this art and national industry. This study aims at assessing the role of these cooperatives in improving social and economic situation of carpet- weavers. The statistical community of the study includes all members of carpet cooperatives of Hamadan province selected according to Cochran’s formula. This sample included 214 of carpet – weavers. In addition, an equal number of carpet- weavers (214) who are not member of carpet cooperatives selected to compare the social and economic situation of two groups. The subject selected randomly through proportional stratified sampling. The most important tool for data collection was questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire confirmed by specialists and its reliability computed using Cronbachs Alpha coefficient (0.81(. Results indicate a significant difference between two groups of carpet-weavers. The members and non-members regarding the rate of production, income, access to loan and facilities of carpet- weaving, access to raw material and carpet- weaving tools, rate of social interaction, rate of social awareness and special carpet-weaving knowledge and this difference is almost one percent (1%) in such a way that in all seven economic and social indices studied on member carpet-weavers, they had a better condition compared with non-member ones. In addition, result revealed that there is a significant different between members and non-member carpet- weavers in regard with insurance services, getting loan and facilities and attendance in educational courses (1%). In general, handmade carpet cooperatives play an important role in improving the social and economic situation of carpet-weavers in Hamadan province.