THE ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, THE EFFICIENCY OF COLLECTIVE ACTIONS AND WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE: THE FREE RIDERS DILEMMA RECONSIDERED

The free riders dilemma in its original formulation by Olson has been amended and refined by various authors. This paper presents arguments for a further revision. The pivotal idea is that important parameters of the dilemma are subjectively determined: that is, they depend on the cognitions of those involved. The result is that it cannot be established in advance whether there is a dilemma, and what its exact nature is. This paper discusses two important parameters of the dilemma: (a) the estimate of the number of participants: (b) the estimate of the effectiveness of action as a weapon. We assume that both are important determinants of the willingness to participate in collective action and that these estimates vary for different collectivities, different types of action, and different circumstances and events. These assumptions were tested in a study with a longitudinal design, and the outcomes support them. It is concluded that the theory of the dilemma of collective behaviour must be reconsidered. (Author/TRRL)