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From: radford@calgary.UUCP (Radford Neal)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Solution to Free Rider problem
Message-ID: <35@calgary.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 12-Jan-86 22:37:19 EST
Article-I.D.: calgary.35
Posted: Sun Jan 12 22:37:19 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 13-Jan-86 02:43:12 EST
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Organization: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
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> The real question to me though is whether anyone is in fact being
> coerced by a governmental solution to free rider problems. If we
> have a situtation which involves only Jan W's category C indviduals,
> each of which will contribute but only if everyone else does, then
> the government is only coercing them to do what they prefer. Can
> anyone be said to be forced into doing something they want to do?

The problems with the governmental solution of the Free Rider problem
are the following:

    1) Most real projects will not benefit *everyone*. At best a 
       large majority will benefit. E.g: a government-financed program
       to find a cure for tooth decay will not benefit me, because
       I am naturally immune to dental caries. Some people consider it
       unethical to require non-beneficiaries to pay for what they 
       don't need.

    2) Using political means to decide which projects are beneficial
       is likely to be very inaccurate. Many projects which are not
       worth their cost will be built; many worthwhile projects will
       not be financed. Do you favour research into a cure for cancer?
       Of course! Who couldn't? How about a new sewage treatment plant?
       I don't know, doesn't sound exciting... Cost vs. benefit is 
       seldom mentioned. A system which ties decisions to the individual's
       judgement of the affect on them and of the cost to them might
       do better.


    Radford Neal