Political scienceLesson 2 of 2 in the course The Fundamentals of Group Political Activity

Collective Action: Commons, Free Riding, and Cooperation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Collective action problems arise when people’s individual choices make it difficult for a group to achieve an outcome that would benefit its members. This lesson explains why these problems are often easier to manage in small groups and why larger groups need political institutions and other mechanisms.

In a small group, members are more likely to know one another and interact repeatedly. They can notice who contributes, who does not, and how individual choices affect shared resources. If someone repeatedly avoids cleaning a shared living space, for example, the other residents are likely to notice and can directly ask that person to contribute.

All flashcards

What is a tragedy of the commons?
Individually motivated use of a shared resource leads to its collective depletion or damage.
What is free riding?
Benefiting from a shared good while avoiding some or all of the cost of providing it.
What are two conditions Elinor Ostrom highlighted for community resource management?
Inclusive collective decision-making and clear rules that members understand.
What is a prisoner’s dilemma?
A strategic situation where each participant has an incentive to defect, although mutual cooperation would benefit both.
What is social solidarity?
A sense of common connection and shared responsibility that can encourage people to contribute.

Quiz questions

  1. Under privatization, how do users gain access to a shared resource?Answer: They pay for permission to use it.
  2. Why can carbon taxes be difficult for governments to set high enough to substantially reduce emissions?Answer: Their costs are immediate and visible, while many benefits occur later.
  3. Which situation best describes the incentive structure of a prisoner’s dilemma?Answer: Each participant has an incentive to defect, although mutual cooperation would leave both better off.
  4. How can a third party support cooperation between participants who do not trust one another?Answer: It can monitor the participants, enforce rules, and punish violations.
  5. When are citizens more likely to comply voluntarily with taxes?Answer: When they see the system as fair and trust others and public institutions.

Based on Introduction to Political Science by Mark Carl Rom, Masaki Hidaka, Rachel Bzostek Walker (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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