Mancur Olson

Mancur Olson was an American economist and social scientist known for his work on collective action and public goods. He argued that individuals in groups often fail to work together for common benefits because self-interest leads them to rely on others to contribute. This phenomenon is known as the "free rider problem." Olson’s influential book, "The Logic of Collective Action," emphasizes that successful collective efforts require incentives or leadership to motivate individuals to participate. His ideas have important implications in areas such as political science, economics, and organizational behavior, helping to understand how groups achieve goals or fail to do so.