![]() ![]() It may also be easier to free ride because it is less obvious in a large group when any single person does not contribute. In comparison, larger groups have a greater number of individuals and therefore more viewpoints to consider, making consensus more difficult. ![]() It is also more difficult for members to free ride in a smaller group. For one thing, opinions within smaller groups may be more similar, making it easier to reach consensus. Smaller, well-organized groups also have an advantage. Groups with financial resources have an advantage in mobilizing in that they can offer incentives or hire a lobbyist. They can sometimes maintain themselves by obtaining financial support from patrons outside the group. Olson argued, for instance, that some groups are better able than others to surmount collective action problems. If free riding is so prevalent, why are there so many interest groups and why is interest group membership so high in the United States? One reason is that free riding can be overcome in a variety of ways. In February 2009, in protest over the “union-busting” efforts of the Rite-Aid Corporation, members of the AFL-CIO demonstrated at the drugstore chain’s corporate headquarters in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Therefore, free riders can receive the benefit of the pay increase without helping defray the cost by paying dues, attending meetings or rallies, or joining protests. The benefits sought by unions, such as higher wages, collective bargaining rights, and safer working conditions, are often enjoyed by all workers regardless of whether they are members. If union membership is optional and all workers will receive a salary increase regardless of whether they make the time and money commitment to join, some workers may free ride. Since it is unlikely that any one listener’s donation will be decisive in whether NPR has adequate funding to continue to operate, most listeners will not contribute to the costs but instead will free ride and continue to receive the benefits of listening.Ĭollective action problems and free riding occur in many other situations as well. When National Public Radio (NPR) engages in a fund-raising effort to help maintain the station, many listeners will not contribute. This result is often termed the free rider problem, because some individuals can receive benefits (get a free ride) without helping to bear the cost. Why do some students elect to do little on a group project? The answer is that they likely prefer to do something else and realize they can receive the same grade as the rest of the group without contributing to the effort. Thus, there is a disincentive to call your member of Congress, because rarely will a single phone call sway a politician on an issue. In fact, most people take no action on most issues, either because they do not feel strongly enough or because their action will likely have little bearing on whether a given policy is adopted. Many citizens may have concerns about the appropriate level of taxation, gun control, or environmental protection, but these concerns are not necessarily strong enough for them to become politically active. People tend not to act when the perceived benefit is insufficient to justify the costs associated with engaging in the action. In his classic work, The Logic of Collective Action, economist Mancur Olson discussed the conditions under which collective actions problems would exist, and he noted that they were prevalent among organized interests. Collective Action and Free RidingĬollective action problems exist when people have a disincentive to take action. This is especially true of interest groups, whose formation and survival depend on members doing the necessary work to keep the group funded and operating. Whether it is Congress trying to pass a budget or an interest group trying to motivate members to contact lawmakers, organizations must overcome collective action problems to be productive. Why do some do all the work, while others do little or none? How is it possible to get people to work when there is a disincentive to do so? This situation is an example of a collective action problem, and it exists in government as well as in public and private organizations. In any group project in which you have participated, you may have noticed that a small number of students did the bulk of the work while others did very little. Discuss ways to overcome collective action problems.Describe free riding and the reasons it occurs.Explain the concept of collective action and its effect on interest group formation.By the end of this section, you will be able to: ![]()
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