The Public Goods Dilemma and the "Apathy" of the Poor toward Neighborhood Organization

Abstract

Mancur Olson's discussion of the public goods dilemma in interest-group formation is used to explain the apparent indifference of the poor toward neighborhood organization efforts. Instead of focusing on alleged unique characteristics of the poor or poor neighborhoods, I will illustrate how the neighborhood organization problem can be viewed within the same analytical framework used to explain the successes and failures of other interest-group ventures, like labor unions or professional associations. In turn, this framework can be employed as the basis for formulating viable alternatives to traditional organizing approaches.