free riding
Taking without giving back
Free riding is benefiting from a collective resource or effort without contributing to it.
The term comes from economics and political science, describing someone who enjoys public goods—roads, national defense, clean air—without paying taxes or doing their share.
The problem with group projects is always the free riders.
The concept extends to any situation where someone coasts on others' work: a coworker who takes credit without contributing, a roommate who never buys toilet paper.
Exploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
- leechingExtracting gradually, parasitically
- scroungingSeeking handouts resourcefully
parasitism · taking advantage · opportunism · piggybacking · deadbeat · freeloader · mooch · sponger
Reduced exertion in groups
- shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks
- slackingAvoiding effort deliberately
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- goldbrickingFeigning effort to avoid labor
Shared, non-excludable resources
- externalityUncompensated effect on others
- market failureInefficient resource distribution
- collective actionOrganized group pursuit
- tragedy of the commonsShared resources ruined by self-interest
spillover · social cost · tax avoidance · herd immunity · public broadcasting · national defense · cost-sharing
Failure to obey rules
- tax evasionIllegally avoiding government dues
- fare evasionNot paying transit cost
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
monitoring · collective responsibility · civic duty · social contract · reciprocity · mutual obligation · defection · turnstile jumping
freeloading
Exploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
- leechingExtracting gradually, parasitically
scrounging · parasitism · taking advantage · opportunism · piggybacking · deadbeat · freeloader · mooch · sponger · leech
social loafing
Reduced exertion in groups
- shirkingAvoiding obligatory tasks
- slackingAvoiding effort deliberately
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
goldbricking · passenger · deadwood · group project · bystander effect
public goods
Shared, non-excludable resources
- externalityUncompensated effect on others
- market failureInefficient resource distribution
- collective actionOrganized group pursuit
tragedy of the commons · spillover · social cost · tax avoidance · herd immunity · public broadcasting · national defense · cost-sharing
non-compliance
Failure to obey rules
- tax evasionIllegally avoiding government dues
- fare evasionNot paying transit cost
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
sanctions · monitoring · collective responsibility · civic duty · social contract · reciprocity · mutual obligation · defection · turnstile jumping · cheating
- moochingmooch, moocher, mooching, freeloader, freeloading
- opportunismcapitalizing, cashing in, self-serving, maneuvering, leveraging
- economicssupply and demand, inflation, GDP, GNP, gross domestic product
- global governanceUN, United Nations, EU, World Bank, IMF
- group dynamicsgroup dynamics, cooperation, norms, conflict, in-group
- political apathyvoter apathy, political apathy, nonvoting, non-voting, low turnout
free ridingcontributing
Giving to a cause
pulling one's weight · pitching in · chipping in · stepping up · active participation
free ridingreciprocity
Mutual exchange of actions
fair dealing · giving back · reciprocating · quid pro quo · mutual obligation
free, ride, rider, riders, rides, ridden, riding, freeride, freerider