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Journal of Economic Literature: Vol. 39 No. 3 (September 2001)

JEL Volume. 39, Issue 3 | Previous ArticleNext Article

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Economics of Alliances: The Lessons for Collective Action

Article Citation

Sandler, Todd, and Keith Hartley. 2001. "Economics of Alliances: The Lessons for Collective Action." Journal of Economic Literature, 39(3): 869-896.

DOI: 10.1257/jel.39.3.869

Abstract

This essay provides an up-to-date summary of the findings of the literature on the economics of alliances. We show that the study of the economics of alliances has played a pivotal role in understanding and applying public good analysis to real-world applications. We establish that the manner in which alliances address burden sharing and allocative issues is related to strategic doctrines, weapon technology, perceived threats, and membership composition. Past contributions are evaluated, and areas needing further development are identified. The theoretical and empirical knowledge gained from the study of alliances is shown to be directly applicable to a wide range of international collectives.

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Authors

Sandler, Todd (U Southern CA)
Hartley, Keith (U York)

JEL Classifications

D71: Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
D74: Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances
D72: Models of Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior