Reconsideration on the Typology of Three Sectors

Abstract

We have to reconsider the characteristics and roles of three sectors; the public sector, business enterprises, and the third sector (so called "social economy"). We have considered the above-mentioned characteristics and roles on the basis of the typology developed by Polanyi: "redistribution"=the public sector, "exchange"=markets, and "reciprocity"=the association (the third sector). This typology is based on the various forms of ownership. However, the ownership has lost or attenuated its decisive role in many aspects of the economy, as the material-based economy has changed to the information-based economy. Both in the public sector and in business enterprises in markets, citizens' participation and worker participation will make good progress. So, in a sense, association-ship will prevail in various types in all sectors. Considering the above-mentioned situation, we develop the new idea, the need-led typology. Each sector should be identified on the base of the type of need satisfied by the agents in that sector.