公益组织的道德经济——以美国中镇仁人舍为个案

Moral Economy of Nonprofit Organizations:——The Case of Middletown Habitat for Humanity,U.S.A.

道德经济概念有助于分析公益组织的经济活动与市场经济的关系。此概念来自于汤普森,其基本立场是反对市场经济单纯追逐利益的做法。后来,道德经济的含义转向强调赠予。美国公益组织中镇仁人舍提供了道德经济的个案。与汤普森的道德经济来自底层民众不同,公益组织的道德经济主要由中上收入阶层的一部分人发起。公益组织的道德经济还能够满足一些人的物质需求,是对市场经济的重要补充。另外,它接受和采用市场经济的一些运作方式。总之,公益组织的道德经济虽然反对形式市场经济,但却是实质市场经济的一部分。市场经济需要公益组织的道德经济与之相配套。

The concept ＂moral economy＂ will help analyze the relationship between nonprofit organizations＇ economic activities and market economy. It mainly came from E. P. Thompson who opposed profit-pursuing aspects of market economy. Later, it＇ s meaning turns to emphasizing on giving. Middletown Habitat for Humanity, which is a nonprofit organization in the U.S.A., offers a case of moral economy.But different from Thompson＇ s moral economy which was from low-income people, nonprofit organizations＇ moral economy mainly comes from upper-income and middle-income people. Also, it helps meet some people＇ s material needs and thus is an important supplement to market economy. Besides, it accepts and adopts some operational methods from market economy. In a word, although nonprofit organizations＇ moral economy opposes formal market economy, it is part of substantial market economy. And market economy needs nonprofit organizations＇ moral economy to complement.