- Preface, 1971
- Introduction
- I. A Theory of Groups and Organizations
- A. The purpose of organization
- B. Public goods and large groups
- C. The traditional theory of groups
- D. Small groups
- E. “Exclusive” and “inclusive” groups
- F. A taxonomy of groups
- II. Group Size and Group Behavior
- A. The coherence and effectiveness of small groups
- B. Problems of the traditional theories
- C. Social incentives and rational behavior
- III. The Labor Union and Economic Freedom
- A. Coercion in labor unions
- B. Labor-union growth in theory and practice
- C. The closed shop and economic freedom in the latent group
- D. Government intervention and economic freedom in the latent group
- IV. Orthodox Theories of State and Class
- A. The economists’ theory of the state
- B. The Marxian theory of state and class
- C. The logic of the Marxian theory
- V. Orthodox Theories of Pressure Groups
- A. The philosophical view of pressure groups
- B. Institutional economics and the pressure group—John R. Commons
- C. Modern theories of pressure groups—Bentley, Truman, Latham
- D. The logic of group theory
- VI. The “By-Product” and “Special Interest” Theories
- A. The “by-product” theory of large pressure groups
- B. Labor lobbies
- C. Professional lobbies
- D. The “special interest” theory and business lobbies
- E. Government promotion of political pressure
- F. Farm cooperatives and farm lobbies
- G. Noneconomic lobbies
- H. The “forgotten groups”—those who suffer in silence
- Appendix
- Index
HARVARD ECONOMIC STUDIES


Harvard Economic Studies 124
The Logic of Collective Action
Public Goods and the Theory of Groups, With a New Preface and Appendix
Product Details
PAPERBACK
$34.50 • £27.95 • €31.00
ISBN 9780674537514
Publication Date: 01/01/1971
Related Subjects
Awards & Accolades
- 1994 Leon Epstein Outstanding Book Award, Political Organizations and Parties Section of the American Political Science Association