The Problems of Collective Action : A New Approach . *

The problem of collective action is usually identified with social dilemmas. A wider notion of the term collective action problem is introduced, as dilemmas are not the only problems to arise in collective action. The article first presents a typology of collective action problems based on matrix game analysis. Five types are distinguished: distribution, defection, co-ordination, disagreement, and instability problems. Second, the article discusses a number of proposals how to resolve these types of collective action problems, such as altruism, norms, focal points, correlated strategies, collective decision-making, external power, and sanctioning. Whereas the "political" solutions can be used to resolve all types of problems, the "motivational" solutions can only facilitate the resolution of some of the problems, and the "rational expectation" solutions can solve some types and help to solve others. * I gratefully acknowledge the comments on earlier versions of this paper given by Martin Beckenkamp, Max Planck Project Group on Common Goods, Bonn, Joachim Behnke, University of Bamberg, Christoph Engel and Adrienne Héritier, Max Planck Project Group on Common Goods, Alkuin Kölliker, Max Planck Project Group on Common Goods, Elinor Ostrom, Indiana University, Johannes Schmidt, University of Bamberg, Reinhard Zintl, University of Bamberg, and Michael Zürn, University of Bremen.