CPO-2002 Lecture 32: Lecture 32
Document Summary
Fo(cid:272)uses o(cid:374) for(cid:373)s of (cid:373)ass a(cid:272)tio(cid:374), or (cid:862)(cid:272)olle(cid:272)ti(cid:448)e a(cid:272)tio(cid:374),(cid:863) su(cid:272)h as the protests i(cid:374) east ger(cid:373)a(cid:374)y. Other examples include strikes, elections, fraternities, and so forth. Typically, collective action concerns the pursuit of (cid:862)pu(cid:271)li(cid:272) goods(cid:863) (cid:271)y groups of i(cid:374)di(cid:448)iduals. Non-excludable if the good is provided, everyone gets to enjoy it. Non-rivalrous if someone consumes the good, there is still just as much for everyone else to consume. Might make you think that individuals who are likely to benefit from some public good would be enthusiastic contributors to the provision of that good. Put differently you might expect that groups of individuals with common interests would act collectively to achieve those interests. However, there are compelling reasons to doubt whether individuals will take collective action to achieve their common interests. The difficulty that groups have in providing public goods that all members of the group desire is k(cid:374)o(cid:449)(cid:374) as the (cid:862)(cid:272)olle(cid:272)ti(cid:448)e a(cid:272)tio(cid:374) pro(cid:271)le(cid:373),(cid:863) or (cid:862)free-rider pro(cid:271)le(cid:373). (cid:863)
