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: Two neighbours may agree to drain a meadow, which they possess in common; because it is easy for them to know each others mind; and each must perceive, that the immediate consequence of his failing in his part, is, the abandoning the whole project. But it is very difficult, and indeed impossible, that a thousand persons should agree in any such action; it being difficult for them to concert so complicated a design, and still more difficult for them to execute it; 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.