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A Systematic Literature Review of the Use of Voluntary Failure Theory: Toward a Future Research Agenda

Yuan Cheng et al.

Administration and Society2025https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997241307394article
AJG 2ABDC B
Weight
0.41

Abstract

Despite voluntary failure theory (VFT)’s foundational role in public and nonprofit management scholarship, we do not know how it is used and evaluated. Our systematic literature review finds that scholars’ use of VFT centers on descriptive purposes, rather than providing theoretical propositions about the causes and consequences of government support to nonprofit organizations. Assessment of voluntary failure has also gone beyond the four types articulated by Salamon. We conclude by proposing a future research agenda centered on elucidating testable hypotheses, articulating the focal levels of analysis, and orienting voluntary failure by creating a broad set of public values.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997241307394

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@article{yuan2025,
  title        = {{A Systematic Literature Review of the Use of Voluntary Failure Theory: Toward a Future Research Agenda}},
  author       = {Yuan Cheng et al.},
  journal      = {Administration and Society},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997241307394},
}

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A Systematic Literature Review of the Use of Voluntary Failure Theory: Toward a Future Research Agenda

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Evidence weight

0.41

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.25 × 0.4 = 0.10
M · momentum0.55 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.