How does the free rider problem affect politics?

Question

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The free rider problem occurs when individuals can benefit from a resource, good, or service without paying for it or contributing to its provision, leading to under-provision or depletion of that resource. In the context of politics, the social benefits of political engagement (like voting, advocacy, etc.) are large because they contribute to the democratic process and the formulation of policies that reflect the public's interest. However, the individual benefit of engaging in such activities is often perceived as small, especially considering that a single vote or voice seems unlikely to change the outcome of an election or policy decision. This discrepancy leads to the free rider problem, where individuals might opt not to engage politically, relying instead on others to do so, which results in inefficiently low levels of political engagement overall.

How Does the Free Rider Problem Affect Politics