Collective action

Collective action (English collective action ) occurs when more than one person to act purposefully in a common context of action. The term is used in sociology and economics. Here the term in the context of " public choice " occurs.

Term

The term " collective action" is a borrowing of (English ) collective action and is based on the work of Mancur Olson usually on investigations in accordance with the perspective of rational choice theory ( rational choice ) is used. In sociology, there is next to going back to Max Weber concept of social action and approaches that speak of " collective behavior ," such as in the field of theoretical analysis of social movements.

Economics

The use of the concept of collective action is, inter alia, back to the economist and sociologist Vilfredo Pareto. Mancur Olson, the concept generally worked out. The basic problem is that in the context of Olson's model economically rational acting individuals have no interest to participate in the creation of a collective good, even if it would benefit by creating as everyone else.

The transaction costs (that is, above all, the costs of organizing collective action ) for a majority of the individuals ultimately Seek a little benefit -making goal (or more precisely a public good ) are therefore much higher than that of a small minority who Seek when such collective action has a great benefit. This is referred to in some contexts as a social dilemma. The reason is that the benefits distributed in the first case on many minds, while in the second case only benefit a few of them.

A further problem of collective action is the excludability of the use of the public good achieved by those who did not participate at the same Erlangen. It 's just in the first case veer an incentive under certain conditions and not to participate in the collective action, since the contribution of the individual is low and he weighs its cost with its benefits he receives anyway if successful. This is called free-rider problem.

Newer models of collective action are by Robert Axelrod, who deals with the evolution of cooperation, and of Elinor Ostrom, which examines the use of natural resources empirically in the form of the commons.

Example from the economic theory of trade

The example of the pros and cons of tariff barriers can explain this concept for economic policy decisions. The cost of tariffs, for example for staple foods are circulated on the prices, so that all consumers are affected. However, the company sponsored the industry from the duties benefit disproportionately. You have on the domestic market by a price advantage and will operate accordingly lobbying for such protection.

However, there is also often an incentive for said rider problem, that is, someone sweeps the full benefit without even the collective action - lobbying in this case - to participate.