The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups, With a New Preface and Appendix

Mancur Olson Jr.

Published by Harvard University Press 1965

The Logic of Collective Action

Public Goods and the Theory of Groups, With a New Preface and Appendix

Mancur Olson Jr.

Volume 124 in the series Harvard Economic Studies

https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674041660

Overview
Contents

About this book

Olson develops a theory of group and organizational behavior that cuts across disciplinary lines and illustrates the theory with empirical and historical studies of particular organizations, examining the extent to which individuals who share a common interest find it in their individual interest to bear the costs of the organizational effort.

Reviews

The existence of a large group with a common interest does not automatically give rise to collective action. There must be an individual incentive to join in or there must be compulsion. This proposition, together with the notion that small groups are qualitatively different from large ones, forms the core of this extremely stimulating book… The range of phenomena it helps to explain and the number of existing ideas it overthrows are very considerable. Having set out his theory of groups and organizations…the author demonstrates its explanatory power by examining the growth of trade unionism, the concept of economic freedom, Marx’s class theory, orthodox theories of pressure groups, special interest groups and, lastly, the unorganized groups. Economic analysis is blended with political theory and sociology with great success. The result is an important contribution to social science.
-- The Economist

Olson’s book is a significant and valuable contribution to the economist’s attempt to come to grips with organizational problems.
-- Neil W. Chamberlain American Economic Review

This superb little volume is worthy of the attention of all social scientists. It can lead to a healthy and challenging discussion and perhaps to a reappraisal of pressure groups in American society.
-- Public Opinion Quarterly

There is now a considerable body of literature which attempts to apply economic analysis to political problems. In my opinion, Olson’s is one of the most successful and provocative of these attempts. Olson’s central insight is novel and illuminating to political scientists and he shows that by the use of it he can give familiar facts (about labor unions, farm organizations, and other interest groups) new meaning. I believe that his work is going to force the jettisoning of much of what has been said about interest groups and the revision of the rest. It should also have an influence on the many political scientists who work in the field of organization.
-- Edward C. Banfield, Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Urban Government, Harvard University

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Preface, 1971 Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
I. A Theory of Groups and Organizations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	5
II. Group Size and Group Behavior Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	53
III. The Labor Union and Economic Freedom Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	66
IV. Orthodox Theories of State and Class Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	98
V. Orthodox Theories of Pressure Groups Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	111
VI. The "By-Product" and "Special Interest" Theories Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	132
Appendix Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	179

Language: English
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Copyright year: 1965
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 198

eBook

Published: July 1, 2009
ISBN: 9780674041660