The characteristics and survival of public interest groups

Conclusion There is no reason to assume that pressure groups will further the public interest, however defined. Generally, pressure groups are formed to benefit the members of the group. Those interest groups that form to exert political pressure will be characterized by the distribution of benefits within the group as well as by the net benefits of organizing. These same factors will discourage other groups from organizing. Because of the public good characteristic, pressure groups must avoid the free rider problem. Thus, interest groups tend to be short lived. In the short run, they can solve this problem by providing some divisible benefits, and small groups can use social pressure. In the long run, membership must depend on coercion or institutionalized advantage.