Mancur Olson (economist)

Mancur Olson was an economist known for explaining how groups and interest organizations influence economic and political stability. He argued that large groups, like businesses or unions, tend to struggle with coordinating efforts and often rely on "selective incentives" to motivate participation. His most famous idea, the "Logic of Collective Action," suggests that individuals in large groups may prefer to free-ride on others' efforts, making it difficult for groups to achieve common goals without incentives. Olson's work helps explain why some organizations or policies change slowly and why collective action problems are common in society.