ABSTRACT

Political scientists should apply the collective action problem to how Americans spend, allocate, and organize their time. As a result of the collective action problem, individuals have few incentives to work for social changes which would benefit everyone, not just themselves. The effect of the collective action problem can be seen locally, when parents don’t participate in an effort to increase school funding, and it can be seen globally, when people don’t get involved in efforts to stop global warming. Why should I decrease my carbon emissions when my SUV-driving neighbor is going to benefit just as much as I will from my efforts?