Collective Action under the Articles of Confederation - Hardcover

Dougherty, Keith L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521782090 ISBN 13: 9780521782098

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2001

Synopsis

Rather than focusing on why the states did not contribute to the national government under the Articles of Confederation, Collective Action under the Articles of Confederation asks why they, in fact, did - even when they should not have been expected to contribute. Why did states pay large portions of their requisitions to the federal government when problems of collective action and the lack of governmental incentives suggest that they should not have? Using original data on Continental troop movements and federal debt holdings within each state, in this 2001 book, Dougherty shows that states contributed to the national government when doing so produced local gains. Such a theory stands in stark contrast to the standard argument that patriotism and civic duty encouraged state cooperation. Material incentives and local interests bound the union together and explained the push for constitutional reform more than the common pursuit of mutual goals.

About this title

Review

'For anyone interested in a solid analysis of government under the Articles, this book is very worthwhile.' Public Choice

Book Description

Rather than focusing on why the states did not contribute to the national government under the Articles of Confederation, Collective Action under the Articles of Confederation, first published in 2011, asks why they, in fact, did - even when they should not have been expected to contribute.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521782090
• ISBN 13: 9780521782098
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224