Part of the welfare mix: The third sector as an intermediate area

Abstract

This article presents a conceptional framework which analyses the third sector as a part of a mixed welfare system, otherwise made up of the market, the state and the informal private household spheres. From this perspective, the third sector appears as a dimension of the public space in civil societies: an intermediate area rather than a clear-cut sector. Third sector organisations are understood as polyvalent organisations whose social and political roles can be as important as their economic ones; they are portrayed as hybrids, intermeshing resources and rationales from different sectors. In present policies of "welfare pluralism' the emphasis is consequently more on 'synergetic' mixes of resources and rationales than on mere issues of substitution processes between different sectors of provision. The last section discusses the potential distinguishing features of such policies with respect to 'pluralist" approaches which try to safeguard the conventional hierarchies in a mixed economy of welfare.

Influencing the national policy process: the role of health consumer groups

“…Services were provided for members, although in a few organizations, particularly in the mental health sector, services were provided under contract to clients. Yet there was also support for EversÕ 16 argument that most voluntary organizations are ÔpolyvalentÕ, undertaking both service and policy-related activities and considering these to be equally important, with about a quarter of groups indicating that they were equally committed to both. However, it was clear that the majority were engaged in policy activity: 82% stated that influencing policy was ÔimportantÕ or Ôvery importantÕ at the national level and 63% said this was the case at the local level.…”

Social services, welfare states and places: an overview

“…Other authors, however, considered also a fourth provider, alternatively referred to as the third sector, the non-profit sector, the non-governmental sector, the civil society, or the community (Evers, 1995;Bode and Brandsen 2014;Jenson, 2015). This is certainly not a 'new' provider, as philanthropic or charitable organisations and mutual aid associations or cooperatives provided social assistance and services to the poor and/or to specific communities already in the nineteenth century (Martinelli, 2010).…”

Welfare Mix as a Contested Terrain: Political Positions on Government–Non-profit Relations at National and Local Levels in a Social Democratic Welfare State

“…Evers 1995;Evers and Laville 2004;Ascoli andRanci 2002, see also Titmuss 1958;Pinker 1992 for the related notions on 'welfare pluralism' and 'mixed economy of welfare'). Whereas welfare state studies to a large extent focused (and still focus) on state, market and family involvement in welfare production and risk coverage (e.g.…”