“A small group is powerful in matters relating to a particular industry, because then it is normally the only organized force, but it is less formidable when questions which divide the entire nation are involved, for then it must take on organized labor and other large organized groups. The business community in the aggregate is for this reason not uniquely effective as a pressure group.”
Quote by Mancur Olson
Work
THE LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE ACTION
This book challenges the traditional assumption that groups will naturally form and act to further their shared goals. Instead, it introduces the concept of the 'free rider problem,' arguing that rational, self-interested individuals will not voluntarily contribute to a collective effort if they can benefit from it without participating. The analysis explores how group size, the availability of selective incentives, and the nature of the public good influence the likelihood of collective action. The work has had a profound impact on the fields of economics, political science, and sociology, reshaping the understanding of interest groups, public goods, and social movements. more
Author
Mancur Olson
Mancur Olson was an American economist known for his contributions to public choice theory, collective action theory, and state theory. His research focused on government failure and market failure, particularly on how small groups can gain relative benefits over large groups through collective action. more
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