What is free riding? How is free riding related to the need for public goods?

Imagine a local park where everyone can enjoy leisure activities regardless of whether they've contributed to its upkeep. This is an example of a public good.
Public goods are remarkable in their accessibility and endless capacity for use. They are provided freely, and once in existence, remain available for all to enjoy without hindering anyone else’s experience.

This abundant and persistent nature of public goods creates a unique scenario where the market might struggle to provide them efficiently. It’s hard to charge for something that doesn’t dwindle with use and can’t effectively exclude non-payers. This is where the government often steps in to fund such goods through taxes, ensuring their continuous availability for the collective benefit.

Now, consider a lighthouse. Its guiding light serves all ships nearby without distinction. This is because the lighthouse is non-excludable.

The term 'non-excludable' refers to the trait of a good or service that makes it impossible, or highly impractical, to prevent people from using it. Once a non-excludable good is made available, everyone has access without barriers. This feature is a key aspect of public goods and essential for understanding certain economic behaviors, including government involvement to supply such goods when the market fails to do so efficiently.

To grasp non-rivalrous goods, picture a broadcasted baseball game on TV. One person’s viewing doesn't prevent others from watching the same live game.

The term 'non-rivalrous' is used to describe a good where one person's consumption does not decrease the quantity available for others. Unlike a slice of pie, where more for one means less for another, non-rivalrous goods can satiate numerous desires all at once. As a result, these goods have the potential to offer wide-ranging benefits, but they also complicate traditional business models that depend on selling individual units.

Delving into the free rider problem, imagine a scenario where a community enjoys the benefits of a well-kept neighborhood without certain individuals contributing to the cleaning efforts.

The free rider problem emerges when individuals avoid contributing to the cost of a public good while still reaping the benefits offered by that good. It's akin to having your cake and eating it too, without paying for it. Since the public good will be provided regardless of individual contributions, there's little incentive for people to voluntarily pay their share. This can lead to underfunding and underprovision of essential services or goods, making it a significant challenge for societies aiming to balance individual interests with collective needs.