COLLECTIVE ACTION THEORY OF MANCUR OLSON ON THE EXAMPLE OF INTEGRATED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCERS

Abstract

The aim of this article was to answer the question – do integrated fruit and vegetable producers act in accordance with the assumptions of “the logic of collective actions” by Olson, or want to increase the market organisation level, as suggested by Docian Ciolos, increasing the number of existing groups/organisations? Basing on a library query, the assumptions of the “logic of collective actions” are presented. Using the data provided by the European Commission, a significant negative relationship was found between the average size of the group/organisation and its effectiveness. In addition, there was a regress of organising the fruit and vegetable market in the European Union. Therefore, it is suggested that according to the assumptions of Mancur Olson’s theory, selective stimuli (institutional support) motivating members of groups/organisations to produce a common good that can be, i.a., overcoming the barrier of production scale or competitiveness of the sector should be applied.