This volume investigates the economic mechanisms governing the nonprofit sector and how these structures influence organizational behavior and public policy. Susan Rose-Ackerman, a prominent scholar in law and economics, curates a collection of essays that apply rigorous economic modeling to the voluntary sector. The text examines the interplay between market incentives, donor motivations, and the regulatory frameworks that define nonprofit operations. By bridging theoretical modeling with practical policy analysis, the book provides a framework for understanding how nonprofits function within a market-oriented economy.

Experts recognize this collection as a foundational text for understanding the economic dimensions of the voluntary sector. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for students and professionals in economics and public policy.