David Erdal

Dr. David Erdal serves as Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Management, University of St Andrews, bringing unique expertise in economic democracy and the psychology of sharing. His diverse academic background includes an MA in Chinese from Oxford, an MBA from Harvard, and a Ph.D. from St Andrews focusing on "The Psychology of Sharing: An Evolutionary Approach." His research examines the intersection of evolutionary psychology, economic democracy, and employee ownership, demonstrating how democratic worker ownership positively impacts both business performance and community wellbeing. Through decades of practical experience, he has led numerous successful employee buyouts while contributing significantly to academic understanding of economic democracy. His influential works include "Local Heroes: The Liberation of Loch Fyne Oysters" and "Beyond the Corporation: Humanity Working," which explore the benefits of employee ownership. His research has revealed significant positive social outcomes in communities with high concentrations of worker cooperatives, including reduced inequality, increased civic participation, improved health outcomes, and stronger social cohesion. As a leading authority in the field, he continues to advocate for democratic worker ownership as a means to achieve both economic efficiency and social justice, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical implementation in business structures.