Question

Collective action problems are pervasive in politics in general, and the American political system is not immune from their influence. After defining the concept of a collective action problem, explain how political parties, electoral processes, and interest groups solve various collective action problems. Please make sure to use at least one example from each of the previously mentioned areas of the political process.  

Please explain , thank you

Answer 1

Collective action problem is a situation where everyone in a given group has a choice between two or more alternatives, but rationally their choices may differ from their collective choices. The rational choice of individual may create a cost to the group. So, collective action problem occurs when individuals would all benefit from a certain action. Then rational individual accept this as a collective action and the cost of the action is shared among the group. Mainly the collective problem exist when the people do not have incentive to take action.

Political parties are teams of politician, activists and voters whose goal is to win controll over government. In case of political parties whenever the collective problem arises they solve it various ways. There are lot of members and the parties form the system of leadership through speaker and major and minor leader who communicate the strategies. There is laws, schedule legslation within the party. The party members try to obey that rules and regulation within the political parties. So if the party members differ from their collective action the decisions are taken by leader or speaker they accept it. So this is a solution of collective problem through making laws ans rules within the party system and also making leadership within the parties. For example in democratic and republic party the decisions of leaders and speakers are accepted in the congress. This is how political parties solve collective action problem. They form different types of leader in various areas like religion, class, ideology etc.

In the socety there are various types of people and different choices in terms of their rationality may differ from each other. To solve a collective action problem electoral process represent the robustness of voluntary solution to collective action problem. For any single individual's vote is mathematically insignificant , if they add up they can be very significant. This votting result can give a solution of cllective problem. For example whenever we are involving in electoral process there can win the other party to whom the individual did not vote. But collectively they accept that decision. So this is a sollution of collective action problem.

There are various types of interest groups like economic groups, citizen groups etc. In this interst groups there are various types collective problem arises for a public good problems of free riding arises. Some people take the benfit of public good but they do not contribute. So to make a solution sometimes a essential contribution are taken and that contribution helps to maintain the public good. Let suppose there is park or zoo which is public good, if there is taken a fees for the visit then that fund from fees can help to maintain the public good. It is solution to the collective action problem.