Title: Collective action problem - Wikipedia
Headings: Collective action problem
Collective action problem
Contents
Prominent theorists
Early thought
Modern thought
Theories
Game theory
Prisoner's dilemma
Evolutionary theories
Psychological theories
Public goods
Replenishing resource management
Tragedy of the commons
Social traps
Perceptual dilemma
In conflict
In politics
Voting
Environmental policy
Factors promoting cooperation in social dilemmas
Motivational solutions
Strategic solutions
Structural solutions
Conclusions
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Content: while each seeks a pretext to free himself of the trouble and expence, and would lay the whole burden on others. In this passage, Hume establishes the basis for the collective action problem. In a situation in which a thousand people are expected to work together to achieve a common goal, individuals will be likely to free ride, as they assume that each of the other members of the team will put in enough effort to achieve said goal. In smaller groups, the impact one individual has is much greater, so individuals will be less inclined to free ride. Modern thought
The most prominent modern interpretation of the collective action problem can be found in Mancur Olson's 1965 book The Logic of Collective Action. In it, he addressed the accepted belief at the time by sociologists and political scientists that groups were necessary to further the interests of their members. Olson argued that individual rationality does not necessarily result in group rationality, as members of a group may have conflicting interests that do not represent the best interests of the overall group. Olson further argued that in the case of a pure public good that is both nonrival and nonexcludable, one contributor tends to reduce their contribution to the public good as others contribute more. Additionally, Olson emphasized the tendency of individuals to pursue economic interests that would be beneficial to themselves and not necessarily the overall public. This contrasts with Adam Smith's theory of the " invisible hand " of the market, where individuals pursuing their own interests should theoretically result in the collective well-being of the overall market.