What is a collective action problem? An original example of a collective action problem& solution.

A collective action problem is when all group members would benefit from taking a particular action, but it may not be in everyone's best interests to take that action individually. Due to this, either insufficient action is performed or none at all, which results in an unsatisfactory consequence for the entire group. One of the events that reflect a collective action problem found in my personal life took place when my classmates and I as a group participated in a science fair. The science fair took place when I was in sixth grade, and it was the first science fair for the entire group. At first, the progress went well and was smooth with all the members actively engaging as well as doing the work assigned. Every member seemed to be actively engaged, every task was tackled promptly, and for a moment, it appeared as if nothing could go wrong. That sense of security, in fact, eventually led to a collective action problem, which took place when my group started to make a PPT to present the model in front of the class. The work was distributed to each group: two people were assigned to make a presentation, and the other two were assigned to present it on the last day. The PPT contained few bullet points, and the script was barely written. Even with a perfect model constructed, because of a collective irresponsibility of an action, my group ended up achieving nothing from two weeks of hard work. This experience, although painful, was enlightening. It taught me that trust, while invaluable, needs to be complemented by accountability. It made me realize the importance of safeguards and checks, especially when working as a collective. My group may have faltered at that science fair, but the lessons learned were immeasurable. The next time in a collective setting, I'll remember that science fair and the importance of ensuring not just individual, but collective responsibility. After all, the strength of the team lies in every individual, and the strength of every individual lies in the team. Furthermore, to connect this lesson to a collective action problem with deeper perception, I learned the significance of a need for individuals to take their own responsibility. Responsibility becomes a true value when accomplished by every single member taking benefits or advantages of an action with an equal contribution.