Group size and the voluntary provision of public goods: experimental evidence utilizing large groups

The factor of group size and logistical problems in the provision of public goods were studied. There is an assumption in economics and the social sciences that the capability to furnish a public good is inversely related to group size. A multiple-session experiment called the Voluntary Control Mechanism (VCM) evaluated the public good performances of group sizes of four, 10, 40 and 100. The VCM indicated that group sizes of 40 and 100 were more efficient in providing public goods than the four and ten groups.