Cooperation in Collective Action

The ability to cooperate in collective action problems — such as those relating to the useof common property resources or the provision of local public goods — is a key determinant ofeconomic performance. In this paper we discuss two aspects of collective action problemsin developing countries. First, which institutions discourage opportunistic behavior andpromote cooperation? Second, what are the characteristics of the individuals involvedthat determine the degree to which they cooperate? We first review the evidence from fieldstudies, laboratory experiments, and cross community studies. We then present new resultsfrom an individual level panel data set of rural workers.[...]