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

by Mancur Olson Jr.

Overview

This book develops an original theory of group and organizational behavior that cuts across disciplinary lines and illustrates the theory with empirical and historical studies of particular organizations. Applying economic analysis to the subjects of the political scientist, sociologist, and economist, Mancur Olson examines the extent to which individuals who share a common interest find it in their individual interest to bear the costs of the organizational effort.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674283275
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/01/1971
Series:	Harvard Economic Studies , #124
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	198
File size:	787 KB

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Introduction


I.
A Theory of Groups and Organizations

A.
The purpose of organization


B.
Public goods and large groups


C.
The traditional theory of groups


D.
Small groups


E.
“Exclusive” and “inclusive” groups


F.
A taxonomy of groups



II.
Group Size and Group Behavior

A.
The coherence and effectiveness of small groups


B.
Problems of the traditional theories


C.
Social incentives and rational behavior



III.
The Labor Union and Economic Freedom

A.
Coercion in labor unions


B.
Labor-union growth in theory and practice


C.
The closed shop and economic freedom in the latent group


D.
Government intervention and economic freedom in the latent group



IV.
Orthodox Theories of State and Class

A.
The economists' theory of the state


B.
The Marxian theory of state and class


C.
The logic of the Marxian theory



V.
Orthodox Theories of Pressure Groups

A.
The philosophical view of pressure groups


B.
Institutional economics and the pressure group— John R. Commons


C.
Modern theories of pressure groups—Bentley, Truman, Latham


D.
The logic of group theory



VI.
The “By-Product” and “Special Interest” Theories

A.
The “by-product” theory of large pressure groups


B.
Labor lobbies


C.
Professional lobbies


D.
The “special interest” theory and business lobbies


E.
Government promotion of political pressure


F.
Farm cooperatives and farm lobbies


G.
Noneconomic lobbies


H.
The “forgotten groups”—those who suffer in silence



Appendix


Index