Thanks for nothing? Not-for-profits and motivated agents

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Public Economics
Year: 2011
Volume: 95
Issue: 1
Pages: 94-105

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We re-examine the labor donation theory of not-for-profits and show that these organizations may exist not necessarily because motivated workers prefer to work in them, or that they dominate for-profits in terms of welfare, but because the excess supply of motivated workers makes the non-profit form more attractive to managers. We show that if firms had to compete for motivated workers then not-for-profit firms would be competed out by for-profit firms. Therefore, in the choice between not-for-profit and for-profit provision, other than incentive problems, the distribution of rents between management and workers, and consequently, the relative scarcity of motivated workers may play an important role.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:pubeco:v:95:y:2011:i:1:p:94-105
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25