The article discusses how different institutions like government, family, civil society, and the market provide goods and services to society. It categorizes goods based on consumption and exclusion, leading to four types: individual goods, toll goods, common-pool goods, and collective goods. Each institution has its strengths and weaknesses, and not all goods can be provided by all institutions. The article suggests a decision tree to help allocate responsibilities for providing goods and services more effectively, including considering collaboration and privatization.