ABSTRACT
Associations can be further disaggregated into ‘sectional groups’ and ‘cause groups’ based on the nature of the interest they represent (Stewart 1958). Sectional groups represent a section of society such as farmers or chemical corporations. Sectional groups represent special economic interests that create concentrated costs and benefits for their supporters. Their task is to look after the specific interest of this particular section of society, and their membership is usually limited to that section. These groups typically find it very easy to organize and extract resources from their members, as the group represents its members’ primary material interests. Cause groups, by contrast, typically fight for a public good such as environmental protection, health or consumer protection. The membership of cause groups is not restricted; anyone in favour of the principle can become a member of the group. Cause groups represent diffuse, public interests that impose diffuse costs on and benefits to their supporters. The interests that cause groups fight for are not related to the material needs of a small, homogeneous group of citizens, but rather to a large, heterogeneous group of individuals. The diffuse costs and benefits associated with this form of organization makes it difficult to organize and extract valuable resources from their members.
