This study challenges the classic freeriding hypothesis in the collective action literature that freeriding impedes effective collective action. To analyze when and how will freeriding benefit collective action, we propose a typology of freeriding based on two criteria: the needs of collective action visibility and the participants’ conformity to the group norms. Based on the two dimensions, we categorize free-riders into four types – the promoter, the conformer, the disrupter, and the marginal. We argue that the promoters and the conformers are the free-riders that benefit collective action, the disrupters are the ones that harm collective action, and the marginal free-riders have minimum impact. This study contributes to the collective action literature by expanding our understanding of the different dynamics of collective action and freeriding. This study highlights that when high level of critical mass of participation is crucial to the success of collective action, freeriding can benefit the outcome of collective action when both the individual’s pursuit of self-interests and the “third party’s” involvement contribute to the threshold of participation.
