F. Gaspart et al., PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LOCAL PUBLIC GOOD WITH INDIVISIBILITIES - AN APPLICATION TO WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA, Journal of African economies, 7(2), 1998, pp. 157-184
The logic of voluntary contributions to an indivisible public good is
studied, firstly in a simple game-theoretical framework, then in an em
pirical investigation of a case of watershed development in the Ethiop
ian Highlands. The former approach emphasises the difference between t
he problem under attention and the classical representation of public
good provision, i.e., the Prisoner's Dilemma. The latter approach emph
asises the joint role of leadership and of private interests as key de
terminants of individual contributions, thereby illustrating the game-
theoretical model and providing well-founded guidelines for similar co
llective actions.