Towards a macroscopic generator coordinate method

Collective quantities are defined as macroscopic statistical averages over many level crossing points where microscopic densities are redistributed. Accordingly, the generator coordinate method (GCM) is reconsidered. It is concluded that, contrary to earlier arguments, the macroscopically defined inertia parameter which appears in the GCM Hamiltonian has a finite value close to that obtained using traditional theories assuming the existence of the adiabatic BCS ground state.