Question

Situations in which one person can benefit from a common good without contributing anything are sometimes referred to as ...

a. the prisoner's dilemma
b. the free-rider problem.
c. the lucky dog syndrome.
d. the kobayashi maru mandate.

Answer 1

The free-rider problem refers to situations where an individual benefits from a common good without contributing anything. This can create a problem because if everyone acts as a free rider, the public good may not be adequately funded or provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is b. the free-rider problem.

The free-rider problem refers to situations where an individual benefits from a common good without contributing anything. This term is often used in the context of public goods, where people have an incentive to let others pay for the good and then enjoy its benefits without paying themselves. This can create a problem because if everyone acts as a free rider, the public good may not be adequately funded or provided.

An example of a free-rider problem is when a group of neighbors decides to clean up a park. If one person decides not to contribute their time or resources to the effort and instead benefits from the clean park, they are free-riding on the efforts of others. This can discourage people from contributing in the future, leading to a breakdown in collective action.