> The collective action problem sounds good in theory, but the concept breaks down when you realize that the formation of a government (at least a democracy or republic) is also a collective action.
Formation of a government may have these problems, but it's done once every now and then, and then in between we have stable periods of consensus. Yes, some will disagree with this, and some with that decision, but your solution involves spreading this same mess, akin to government formation, over every single activity where a consensus would be beneficial!
Formation of a government may have these problems, but it's done once every now and then, and then in between we have stable periods of consensus. Yes, some will disagree with this, and some with that decision, but your solution involves spreading this same mess, akin to government formation, over every single activity where a consensus would be beneficial!