The free-rider problem is a problem intrinsic to public goods; the good or service is usually so costly that its provision generally does not depend on whether or not any single person pays.

Question

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The free-rider problem occurs because public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning people cannot be excluded from using them and one person's use does not reduce availability for others, leading some to consume without paying. The issue is not about the cost of provision but about the inability to exclude non-payers.

The Free-Rider Problem Is a Problem Intrinsic to Public Goods;