All interest groups need to recruit and retain members in order to achieve their political goals.Explain what the "free-rider" problem is and why it makes recruitment and retention difficult for interest groups.Drawing on the history of the American Association of Retired People,discuss how successful interest groups are able to overcome the free-rider problem.In your answer,be sure to define the different kinds of selective incentives interest groups provide to their members.

There are three components to this question.
a.Free-rider problem: The free-rider problem stems from the nature of collective goods (which are benefits sought by groups that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers).As a result of the fact that collective goods can be enjoyed by those that did not contribute to their production,there is a strong incentive for individuals to be free riders (people who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring or providing them).This makes it difficult for groups to recruit and retain members.
b.Kinds of selective incentives: To overcome this free-rider problem,groups offer members "selective benefits" available only to group members.These benefits can be informational (special newsletters,periodicals,training programs,conferences,and other information),material (special goods,services,or money),solidary (friendship,networking,and consciousness-raising),or purposive (the knowledge that one is contributing to a dearly held cause).
c.The AARP: The AARP has been more successful in providing the selective benefits necessary to overcome the free-rider problem than nearly any other organization.It helps that AARP began as an organization to provide affordable health insurance rather than as an organization to influence public policy.As the AARP evolved into a political interest group,its leadership added more selective material benefits for individual members.It provided guidance against consumer fraud,offered low-interest credit cards,evaluated and endorsed products that were deemed valuable to members,and provided auto insurance and a discounted mail-order pharmacy.