從計劃經濟走向市場經濟體制，不僅是企業改革和經濟增長的事。當經濟增長取得長足進步時，就必然會對其他領域，尤其是社會領域産生影響。如果社會領域的改革跟不上，具體而言，就是老百姓在社會領域的基本需求得不到滿足的時候，經濟增長帶來的社會結果很可能會异化甚至向其反面。從國際經驗和中國20多年來的改革實踐看，一個能够自我生存和自我發展的“社會領域”，可能也應該是一個獨立于政府和市場之外的“部門”。本文以英國倫敦經濟學院的比爾斯和格倫內斯特提出的關于“第三部門”的“比較優勢理論”爲理論框架來討論國內學術界對“第三部門”的認識以及“第三部門”在我國的發展現狀， 幷對此作出了理論上的歸納。

It is not a mere matter of enterprise reform or economic increase to move from planned economy to market economic institution. The economic increase is certain to influence other fields, especially social fields. If social reform cannot follow it, alienation would take place. From international experience and Chinese reform practice in the past 20 years, a ＂social field＂ of self-survival and self-development could be counted as a ＂department＂ independent of government and market. This paper discusses the ＂third department＂ first proposed by D. Billis and H. Glennerster, and its development in China. Some theoretical conclusions are drawn from our discussions.