Question

Tony is employed as a computer programmer for the State of Illinois. Many of his colleagues are members of

AFSCME, a public services employees union, but Tony has not joined the organization because he is anti-union and
does not want to pay the annual membership dues. Nevertheless, he still stands to benefit from AFSCME's efforts on
behalf of state employees, including a retirement pension and healthcare benefits. This situation is characteristic of
a.union shop law
b.purposive benefits
c.intragovernmental lobbying
d.the free-rider problem

Answer 1

Tony's situation is an example of the free-rider problem, where he benefits from a union's efforts without being a member or contributing to it. Option d is the answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tony's situation, as an employee who benefits from the efforts of a union without joining or contributing to it, is characteristic of the free-rider problem. In such scenarios, collective action problems and free-riding often occur when union membership is not mandatory, yet benefits such as higher wages, collective bargaining rights, and better working conditions are enjoyed by all employees, irrespective of their union membership. As a result, individuals like Tony who choose not to join the union still reap the rewards of the union's efforts to secure better salaries, a retirement pension, and healthcare benefits without contributing to the cost of these efforts.