Activity Quote by Mancur Olson
“If the state, with all of the emotional resources at its command, cannot finance its most basic and vital activities without resort to compulsion, it would seem that large private organizations might also have difficulty in getting the individuals in the groups whose interests they attempt to advance to make the necessary contributions voluntarily.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Logic of Collective Action, Mancur Olson, 1965
When the state must coerce to fund essential services, large private groups may also struggle to obtain voluntary contributions from members.
In simple terms: Compulsion needed for basic services suggests private groups face similar voluntary funding issues.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of voluntary contributions in large organizations.
Themes
economics
politics
public policy
collective action
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
academic
theoretical
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- nonprofit fundraising
- corporate stakeholder engagement
Key Concepts
public goods
free rider problem
coercion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations foster genuine voluntary support?
- What mechanisms reduce reliance on compulsion?
A Different Perspective
Voluntary contributions may work in smaller, more cohesive groups.
![“What I am anxious to do is to get the best bill possible with the least amount of friction… I wish to avoid [splitting our party]. I shall do all in my power to retain the corporation tax as it is now and also force a reduction of the [tariff] schedules. It is only when all other efforts fail that…” quote by William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07b/william-howard-taft-3006_amount_what-i-am-anxious-to-do-is-to-get-the-be_41279.jpg)
