Potential benefits and costs of CSA and empirical evidence on the motivation to be a
CSA partner
Although not all aspects of CSA fit easily with the framework of conventional economics, we
look at it as an economic arrangement in which certain values that are at the core of solidarity
economy play an important role. In that sense we see it as an innovative economic alternative
that occupies space that was left empty by the capitalist markets. Despite its solidary character, the
participation in and thus the success of CSA depend on the partners’ benefits and costs. These
benefits and cost may be tangible or intangible and many are linked to certain values such as
solidarity, community or environment.