The Need for Third Sector Development

Year Published:  1977
Pages:  4pp   Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX251

A paper that argues that large centralized government and business enterprises are incapable of responding to the critical needs of small communities.

Abstract: 
This paper argues that large centralized government and business enterprises are incapable of responding to the critical needs of small communities. It shows that elected representatives change portfolios too quickly to affect major decisions and change. As a result, real decisions are made by a highly organized civil service preoccupied in fulfilling its own internal regulations. Big business is judged as being too patently profit oriented to be able to respond to critical needs like job creation and providing services to hinterland regions. As an alternative the author suggests that government income provide services in the area of health, social services and economic development through intermediate locally based voluntary organizations. These he calls third Sector institutions. They are characterized as being motivated by non-profit community improvement and are controlled by independent local committees since they strike to be flexible to local needs.