collective action problem

noun

A problem that can only be solved by taking collective action.

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Meanings

nouncollective action problem (plural collective action problems)

plural collective action problems

  1. A problem that can only be solved by taking collective action.

    A pandemic is the ultimate collective action problem: we are in this together and it must be managed collectively by government.

    2020 March 17, Ed Miliband, “Tear up the economic rule book. This pandemic calls for radical intervention”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
  2. A situation in which all individuals would be better off cooperating but fail to do so because of conflicting interests between individuals that discourage joint action.
Cite this entry
APA

collective action problem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/collective%20action%20problem

MLA

“collective action problem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/collective%20action%20problem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “collective action problem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/collective%20action%20problem.

Source: collective action problem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.