The Logic of Collective Action：Public Goods and the Theory of Groups, Second printing with new preface and appendix

MancurLloydOlson,Jr.(pronounced/ˈmænsər/[1]or/ˈmæŋkər/;January22,1932–February19,1998)wasaleadingAmericaneconomistandsocialscientistwho,atthetimeofhisdeath,workedattheUniversityofMaryland,CollegePark.Amongotherareas,hemadecontributionstoinstitutionaleconomicsontheroleofprivateproperty,taxation,publicgoods,collectiveactionandcontractrightsineconomicdevelopment.Olsonfocusedonthelogicalbasisofinterestgroupmembershipandparticipation.Thereigningpoliticaltheoriesofhisdaygrantedgroupsanalmostprimordialstatus.Someappealedtoanaturalhumaninstinctforherding,othersascribedtheformationofgroupsthatarerootedinkinshiptotheprocessofmodernization.Olsonofferedaradicallydifferentaccountofthelogicalbasisoforganizedcollectiveaction.