INGOs have proliferated globally despite a sharp decline in new U.S.-based foundations between 1992 and 2012. This paradox stems from environmental density, which discourages founding while encouraging competition among established organizations.
Key finding: Density correlates negatively with INGO founding rates across sectors.
Why it matters: This research reveals an overlooked causal mechanism—density—in shaping the international NGO landscape, addressing ongoing debates about cooperation versus rivalry.
Data & methods: Analysis of a new comprehensive U.S. dataset (1992–2012) and case studies in environmental conservation and democracy assistance sectors.
| Density and Decline in the Founding of International NGOs in the United States was authored by Sarah Sunn Bush and Jennifer Hadden. It was published by Oxford in ISQ in 2019. |
