The Political Economy of the Voluntary Sector

A Reappraisal of the Comparative Institutional Advantage of Voluntary Organizations

Brian E. Dollery, Professor of Economics and Director, Centre for Local Government, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia and Joe L. Wallis, Professor of Economics and Public Administration, School of Business and Management, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

In this book, the authors outline how policymakers in advanced countries have moved away from exclusive reliance on the public sector in social service delivery, towards a more multi-faceted approach that seeks to combine the strengths of public agencies, private firms and voluntary organizations. This development raises interesting and complex questions concerning the comparative advantages of these respective groups in the delivery of goods and services.

‘By posing the questions which economists might ask as they study the voluntary sector the authors have produced an innovative and useful piece of work which will contribute to the now considerable literature on voluntary organisations and to the current debate on how the welfare state should be reformed.’
– Citizen’s Income

这本书提供了一个极好的review of the literature on nonprofit organizations and extends the boundaries of our knowledge in a substantial and novel way. In particular, Dollery and Wallis provide a seminal analysis of public policy alternatives on the voluntary sector. The book represents a “must read” for all scholars, practitioners, students and policymakers interested in nonprofit organizations.’
– Andrew Worthington, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

‘Dollery and Wallis have done it again, having presented the complex ideas of a very eclectic field into a comprehensible and eminently readable form. In addition, the policy implications they draw from the existing literature answer a much needed call for direction and rationale for the various tax breaks, subsidies and other tools at the disposal of politicians with regard to NPOs. This book not only presents a comprehensive picture of the issues involved and approaches to understanding the voluntary sector, but serves as a stepping stone to expand the frontier of this important, but still nascent field. A must read for anyone serious about policy towards NPOs.’
– Craig Parsons, Yokohama National University, Japan