An economic theory of clubs

摘要: The implied institutional setting for neo-classical economic theory, including theoretical welfare economics, is a regime of private property, in which all goods and services are privately (individually) utilized or consumed. Only within the last two decades have serious attempts been made to extend formal structure include communal collective ownership-consumption arrangements.2 " pure theory public goods" remains its infancy, few models that most rigorously developed apply only polar extreme cases. For example, fundamental papers by Paul A. Samuelson, sharp conceptual distinction between those purely ". No general has covers whole spectrum possibilities, ranging from individualized activity on one hand collectivized other. One missing links here clubs ", co-operative membership, will as variable be determined extension ownershipconsumption rights over differing numbers persons. Everyday experience reveals there exists some preferred optimal" membership almost any we engage, this varies relation factors. European hotels more communally shared bathrooms than their American counterparts. Middle low income communities organize swimming-bathing facilities; high observed enjoy owned swimming pools. In paper I shall develop clubs, consumption ownership-membership arrangements. This construction allows us move step forward closing awesome Samuelson gap good. former, optimal sharing arrangement, club clearly person (or family unit), whereas group