Voluntary Programs
A Club Theory Perspective
Published on 1. November 2009
Book
Hardback
354 pages
978-0-262-16250-0 (ISBN)
Description
A conceptual framework and empirical case studies of the policy effect of voluntary programs sponsored by industry, government, and nongovernmental organizations.
The recent growth of voluntary programs has attracted the attention of policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and scholars. Thousands of firms around the world participate in these programs, in which members agree to undertake socially beneficial actions that go beyond the requirements of government regulations, such as following labor codes in the apparel industry, adhering to international accounting standards, and adopting internal environmental management systems. This book analyzes the efficacy of a variety of voluntary programs using a club theory, political-economy framework. It examines how programs' design influences their effectiveness as policy tools. It finds that voluntary programs have achieved uneven success because of their varying standards and enforcement procedures.
The club theory framework views voluntary programs as institutions that create incentives for firms to incur the costs of taking progressive action beyond what is required by law in exchange for benefits that nonmembers do not enjoy (such as enhanced standing with stakeholders). Voluntary Programs develops this theoretical framework and applies it to voluntary programs sponsored by industry associations, governments, and nongovernmental organizations, organized around policy issues such as "blood diamonds," shipping, sweatshops, and the environment. The wide diversity of cases-across sectors, sponsoring organizations, and objectives-provides valuable applications of the club framework, generates new insights for future research, and offers practical guidance for designing effective programs.
Contributors
David P. Baron, Tim Bartley, Tim Büthe, Cary Coglianese, Elizabeth R. DeSombre, Daniel W. Drezner, Daniel Fiorino, Mary Kay Gugerty, Virginia Haufler, Matthew J. Kotchen, Mimi Lu, Jennifer Nash, Matthew Potoski, Aseem Prakash, Klaas van 't Veld
The recent growth of voluntary programs has attracted the attention of policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and scholars. Thousands of firms around the world participate in these programs, in which members agree to undertake socially beneficial actions that go beyond the requirements of government regulations, such as following labor codes in the apparel industry, adhering to international accounting standards, and adopting internal environmental management systems. This book analyzes the efficacy of a variety of voluntary programs using a club theory, political-economy framework. It examines how programs' design influences their effectiveness as policy tools. It finds that voluntary programs have achieved uneven success because of their varying standards and enforcement procedures.
The club theory framework views voluntary programs as institutions that create incentives for firms to incur the costs of taking progressive action beyond what is required by law in exchange for benefits that nonmembers do not enjoy (such as enhanced standing with stakeholders). Voluntary Programs develops this theoretical framework and applies it to voluntary programs sponsored by industry associations, governments, and nongovernmental organizations, organized around policy issues such as "blood diamonds," shipping, sweatshops, and the environment. The wide diversity of cases-across sectors, sponsoring organizations, and objectives-provides valuable applications of the club framework, generates new insights for future research, and offers practical guidance for designing effective programs.
Contributors
David P. Baron, Tim Bartley, Tim Büthe, Cary Coglianese, Elizabeth R. DeSombre, Daniel W. Drezner, Daniel Fiorino, Mary Kay Gugerty, Virginia Haufler, Matthew J. Kotchen, Mimi Lu, Jennifer Nash, Matthew Potoski, Aseem Prakash, Klaas van 't Veld
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge, Mass.
United States
Publishing group
MIT Press Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: From College Freshman to College Graduate Student
Illustrations
8 Kurvendiagramme, 1 Graphik, 18 Tabellen
1 chart, 8 graphs, 18 tables
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
612 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-262-16250-0 (9780262162500)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Aseem Prakash is Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington, Seattle, and coauthor (with Matthew Potoski) of The Voluntary Environmentalists: Green Clubs, ISO 14001, and Voluntary Environmental Regulations.
Matthew Potoski is a Associate Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University. Aseem Prakash is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington, Seattle. Potoski and Prakash are coauthors of The Voluntary Environmentalists: Green Clubs, ISO 14001, and Voluntary Environmental Regulations.
Matthew Potoski is Associate Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University and coauthor (with Aseem Prakash) of The Voluntary Environmentalists: Green Clubs, ISO 14001, and Voluntary Environmental Regulations.
Matthew Potoski is a Associate Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University. Aseem Prakash is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington, Seattle. Potoski and Prakash are coauthors of The Voluntary Environmentalists: Green Clubs, ISO 14001, and Voluntary Environmental Regulations.
Matthew Potoski is Associate Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University and coauthor (with Aseem Prakash) of The Voluntary Environmentalists: Green Clubs, ISO 14001, and Voluntary Environmental Regulations.