Collective Action/Club Goods Model for Analyzing Common Property Resources

Abstract

"This study develops a collective action/club goods model for analyzing the private collective approach to common property resource systems (CPR). The argument is that there are contexts in which collective action is successful or has the potential for success in initiating and sustaining group organization for the joint private provision, use, and management of a common property resource. Collective action theory should be understood as addressing the issue of whether there will be group organization, group decision-making, or any other type of group initiative at all. It does not deal with what form such organization will take. In distinguishing between the conditions for initiating and sustaining collective action, I want to recognize that it is often easier to get something started than it is to keep it going. To avoid over optimism, a very brief discussion of conditions that lead to the failure of collective action is also included."