Professional Documents
Culture Documents
You Confess
You Do Not
Confess
Smith Confesses
5 You, 5 Smith
10 You, 0 Smith
0 You, 10 Smith
1 You, 1 Smith
You Confess
You Do Not
Confess
Smith Confesses
5 You, 5 Smith
10 You, 0 Smith
0 You, 10 Smith
1 You, 1 Smith
Example 1 - Someone might try to cut in line (in traffic, at a movie theater, etc.) rather
than going to the back of the line, for instance taking advantage of other peoples
obedience to the first come, first served rule an accepted social norm to get ahead
of them. A person who breaks contracts in this way is a free rider. Free riders do
sometimes gain an advantage over those who obey contracts, particularly when
sanctions are mild or contracts are not regularly enforced.
Example 2 Police and Fire protection is extended to all citizens within a political
boundary (city, county, state, country). However, some citizens may avoid paying the
taxes that pay for these services, yet they are still afforded protection.
Example 3 In a labor union, free riding occurs if an employee pays no union dues or
agency shop fees (in right to work states), but benefits when a union negotiates a pay
raise for an entire class of employees.
This idea has informed many political movements in the US. For example,
the idea that we should take care of the environment, or that we should
not leave massive national debt for future generations.