Is Private Social Investment a Form of Public Goods Coproduction? An Overview of the Brazilian Reality

The aim of this article is to analyze Private Social Investment (PSI) in Brazil, based on an exploratory research, to discuss possibilities and limitations of this practice as a mean to promote civic participation. The article primarily defines the concept of PSI and presents the research problem. Then, it analyzes PSI as a strategy to promote citizen engagement in the public sphere, using the concepts of ‘collective action’, ‘coproduction of public goods’ and how they relate to each other. Based on these key concepts, a framework of analysis is built composed of variables that are used to examine the practice of PSI, in Brazil. Sources used in this article are nationwide surveys undertaken in recent years. Secondary data is discussed in comparison to the international ones. Data analysis allows some final considerations that are presented at the end of the article.