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Rational choice, Round Robin, and rebellion: An institutional solution to the problems of revolution

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  • Leeson, Peter T.

Abstract

Two collective action problems plague successful revolution. On the one hand, would-be revolutionaries confront a "participation problem," whereby no rationally self-interested individual has an incentive to participate in rebellion. On the other hand, individuals face a "first-mover problem" whereby no rationally self-interested individual has an incentive to lead rebellion. This paper argues that 18th-century merchant sailors who confronted these problems devised a novel institution to facilitate maritime revolution and assist them in overthrowing abusive captains. This institution was called a "Round Robin." Round Robins helped overcome both the participation and first-mover problems by aligning the interests of individual sailors desiring mutiny and restructuring the payoffs of leading versus following maritime rebellion.

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  • Leeson, Peter T., 2010. "Rational choice, Round Robin, and rebellion: An institutional solution to the problems of revolution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 297-307, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:73:y:2010:i:3:p:297-307
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Coyne,Christopher J., 2020. "Defense, Peace, and War Economics," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108724036, January.
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    4. Vladimir Maltsev, 2024. "Religious reforms and large-scale rebellions (via the case of the Honganji sect of the True Pure Land Buddhism)," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 200(3), pages 589-601, September.
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    6. Leeson,Peter T., 2014. "Anarchy Unbound," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107629707, November.
    7. Louis Rouanet, 2024. "On the tendency of revolutions to devour their own children," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 200(3), pages 603-626, September.
    8. Joshua D. Ammons & Shishir Shakya, 2024. "Revolutions and corruption," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 201(1), pages 355-376, October.
    9. Andrew Marcum & David Skarbek, 2014. "Why didn’t slaves revolt more often during the Middle Passage?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 26(2), pages 236-262, May.
    10. Benjamin Abrams, 2024. "Movement split: how the structure of revolutionary coalitions shapes revolutionary outcomes," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 200(3), pages 473-495, September.
    11. Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard, 2013. "It’s the weather, stupid! Individual participation in collective May Day demonstrations," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 251-271, June.
    12. Nicoara Olga, 2018. "Cultural Leadership and Entrepreneurship As Antecedents of Estonia’s Singing Revolution and Post-Communist Success," TalTech Journal of European Studies, Sciendo, vol. 8(2), pages 65-91, September.
    13. Peter T. Leeson & David B. Skarbek, 2010. "Criminal constitutions," Global Crime, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(3), pages 279-297, August.
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    15. Joshua R. Hendrickson & Alexander William Salter, 2016. "A Theory of Why the Ruthless Revolt," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 295-316, November.
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