%0 Journal Article %1 1988 %A Isaac, R. Mark %A Walker, James M. %D 1988 %I The MIT Press %J The Quarterly Journal of Economics %K collective game goods group provision public size theory %N 1 %P pp. 179-199 %T Group Size Effects in Public Goods Provision: The Voluntary Contributions Mechanism %U http://www.jstor.org/stable/1882648 %V 103 %X This paper examines the relationship between variations in group size and "free-riding" behavior in the voluntary provision of public goods. We examine experimentally two pertinent concepts: the marginal return to an individual from contributions to the public good, and the actual number of members in the group. Our results strongly support a hypothesis that increasing group size leads to a reduction in allocative efficiency when accompanied by a decrease in marginal return from the public good (as from crowding or an association of large groups with imperceptibility of marginal benefits). Our results do not support a pure numbers-in-the-group effect.

@article{1988, abstract = {This paper examines the relationship between variations in group size and "free-riding" behavior in the voluntary provision of public goods. We examine experimentally two pertinent concepts: the marginal return to an individual from contributions to the public good, and the actual number of members in the group. Our results strongly support a hypothesis that increasing group size leads to a reduction in allocative efficiency when accompanied by a decrease in marginal return from the public good (as from crowding or an association of large groups with imperceptibility of marginal benefits). Our results do not support a pure numbers-in-the-group effect.}, added-at = {2010-09-15T14:12:57.000+0200}, author = {Isaac, R. Mark and Walker, James M.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2339ff915ff2bb114080b9f6b520641e0/emmalila}, copyright = {Copyright © 1988 The MIT Press}, description = {(Sandler 1992: 49)}, interhash = {a06eaca1cac52d8db27aa6d12e60b639}, intrahash = {339ff915ff2bb114080b9f6b520641e0}, issn = {00335533}, journal = {The Quarterly Journal of Economics}, jstor_articletype = {research-article}, jstor_formatteddate = {Feb., 1988}, keywords = {collective game goods group provision public size theory}, language = {English}, number = 1, pages = {pp. 179-199}, publisher = {The MIT Press}, timestamp = {2010-09-15T14:12:57.000+0200}, title = {Group Size Effects in Public Goods Provision: The Voluntary Contributions Mechanism}, url = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/1882648}, volume = 103, year = 1988 }