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Rereading Salamon: Why Voluntary Failure Theory is Not (Really) About Voluntary Failures

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  • Toepler Stefan

    (Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, USA)

Abstract

Voluntary Failure or Interdependence Theory remains among the most salient of Salamon’s conceptual contributions to nonprofit studies globally. Broad criticism has been scarce. Yet, there are questions about how the theory can be tested, or whether it is even testable in the first place. A lot of these questions focus on the four voluntary failures. In this commentary, I argue that the role of the voluntary failures is often overemphasized as part of Salamon’s theoretical constructs. This overemphasis in turn lends itself to problematic interpretations of his theory, which was not intended to offer a ‘failure rationale’ for the existence of the nonprofit sector—akin to the twin failures of the market and government, but at its core seeks to provide a rationale for the positive collaborative relations between government and the nonprofit sector. Within that rationale, the voluntary failures play only a relatively minor role.

Suggested Citation

  • Toepler Stefan, 2023. "Rereading Salamon: Why Voluntary Failure Theory is Not (Really) About Voluntary Failures," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 14(4), pages 405-414, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:nonpfo:v:14:y:2023:i:4:p:405-414:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/npf-2023-0080
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shafiq Saman & Albrecht Kate & LeRoux Kelly, 2023. "Extending the Interdependence Theory to Local Public Service Provision: Evidence from Iowa," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 14(3), pages 255-278, July.
    2. Geraldine Robbins & Irvine Lapsley, 2008. "Irish voluntary hospitals: an examination of a theory of voluntary failure," Accounting History Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 61-80.
    3. Jang HeeSoun & Valero Jesus N. & Ford Sara, 2023. "Homeless Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Revisiting Salamon’s Voluntary Failure Theory," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 14(3), pages 279-308, July.
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