A Systematic Literature Review of the Use of Voluntary Failure Theory

Toward a Future Research Agenda

Bibliographic Data

ID11630298
AuthorsYuan Cheng (0000-0003-1336-0331, Twin Cities Orthopedics, corresponding author), Shuyi Deng (Indiana University Bloomington), Huafang Li (0000-0002-5522-5173, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA), Ahmad Banamah (University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA), Maria Tristão Parra (Twin Cities Orthopedics), Maggie Parra (University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA)
Year2025
Volume57
Issue3
Pages450-483
Publication date2025-01-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAdministration & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0095-3997 • E-ISSN: 1552-3039
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00953997241307394
OpenAlexW4406132545
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited63

Despite voluntary failure theory (VFT)’s foundational role in public and nonprofit management scholarship, we do not know how it is used and evaluated. Our systematic literature review finds that scholars’ use of VFT centers on descriptive purposes, rather than providing theoretical propositions about the causes and consequences of government support to nonprofit organizations. Assessment of voluntary failure has also gone beyond the four types articulated by Salamon. We conclude by proposing a future research agenda centered on elucidating testable hypotheses, articulating the focal levels of analysis, and orienting voluntary failure by creating a broad set of public values

Economics · Government (linguistics · Management · Political science · Positive economics · Public management · Public relations · Scholarship · Set (abstract data type · Sociology · Turnover · Computer Science · Disaster Management and Resilience · Law · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research

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