The nonprofit sector: old theory and new evidence, Definitions and functions of nonprofit organizations, The demand-side theories of the nonprofit sector, The supply-side theories of the nonprofit sector, Nonprofit mission, Nonprofit organizations and government, Commercial activities of nonprofit organizations, New institutional economics approaches to nonprofit organizations, Austrian economics and ordonomic approaches to the nonprofit sector
Nonprofit organizations are gaining increasing recognition from policy-makers, practitioners, and academics. Located in the contested arena between the market and the state, they combine private initiative with the pursuit of public interest. This lecture will introduce the basic economic theories of the nonprofit sector, outline new theoretical debates in the field of nonprofit economics, and provide background on selected types of nonprofit organizations and activities. The objective of the lecture is to make students more aware of the growing societal role of nonprofit organizations as well as more knowledgeable about tensions and challenges these organizations face. The focus of the lecture is on conceptual and theoretical issues.
