Forced rider

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A forced rider in economics is a person who is required, by government or other collective, to share in the costs of goods or services without desiring them. Such goods are typically non-excludable.[1][2]

Theory

Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous. As a result, some people may benefit from a public good without helping to cover the costs of production. This is known as the "free rider problem".[3][4]

Collective payment schemes, such as taxes, have historically been used to address the free rider problem. However, compulsory payments may create situations in which individuals are required to contribute to the cost of public goods they would prefer not to support. This is called the "forced rider problem".[5] Due to the nature of a non-excludable good, they do still receive the benefits of the good they are forced to pay for via taxation or other compulsory payment.

Forced riders in taxation

The forced rider has been cited in various authors' views concerning taxation.

  • Pacifists are required to pay for national defense.[6][7][8][page needed]
  • Environmentalists may be required to pay for public works projects, such as dams, which they feel destroy natural habitats in ways they do not condone.[6]
  • In a unionized workplace, non-union as well as union members are required to pay dues to the union representing the workplace.[citation needed]
  • Healthy and previously uninsured individuals being forced via an individual mandate to subsidize insurance for unhealthy individuals. Previously uninsured individuals are now forced riders.[citation needed]

References

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  3. Providing Global Public Goods[dead link]
  4. Multipart pricing of public goods bbs.cenet.org.cn
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