What is a collective action? How do interest groups overcome the major challenges that collective action problems pose?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Collective action is a political action that occurs when individuals contribute their energy, time, or money to a larger group goal. This is the very definition of how interest groups and social movements form. But the problem that collective actions have is in getting every member to contribute equally to the final outcome and its benefits. We know that people do not tend to act in the interest of a group but, instead, will act in their own interest to get the most benefit from a collective action with the least possible cost or contribution. Yet another problem is the free rider problem, which happens when a nonmember receives the benefits of a collective action without contributing to their cost. Many groups create benefits that cannot be excluded and are therefore subject to free riders. This means groups must develop strategies to actively recruit and encourage their members to contribute the maximum benefit to the group’s desired outcome. Sometimes groups offer selective benefits that are available only to contributing members. Other times, material benefits are offered for participating in the group. But some group members are motivated by social and purposive benefits, which reward members simply by participating in the group’s actions. These benefits can be used as motivation for members to contribute to the collective action of the group (sometimes referred to as a “public good’).