Mancur Olson

Mancur Olson was an American political economist known for his work on the collective action problem. He argued that individuals often fail to work together for a common goal because of conflicting interests and the temptation to "free ride"—benefiting from a collective good without contributing to its production.12

Olson suggested that collective action is more likely when groups use "selective incentives," such as rewards for participation or penalties for non-participation. He also noted that smaller, more homogenous groups, or those with strong social ties, may find it easier to overcome these challenges. His ideas challenged the notion that people automatically mobilize to defend their group interests.12