The Free Rider Problem

Abstract

Journal of Psychology & Clinical Psychiatry Editorial Open Access Covid-19 and the free-rider problem Editorial It seems as if every day brings with it a new assault on truth. Whether it is public health experts advocating the use of face masks or social distancing, leading government officials advocate just the opposite. The President falsely contrasts “opening up” the economy with any demonstrable respect forthe safety of U.S. citizens. No less a figure than Rand Paul tweets that, since “below 25 years old the fatality rate of Covid-19 is 0.00008 percent,” we should reopen our schools, summer camps and virtually all other endeavors engaged in by this age group. Who will speak for the unfortunatethousands of individuals sacrificed in Paul’s calculus? Each will pay with 100 percent of what is most precious to them. The math is simple: if social distancing/facemaskwearing has lowered but not eradicated the virus, the rate of infection will only rise when these practices are relaxed, even if widespread testing and contact tracing were adequate, which it is not. While the administration’s distortion of the truth speaks for itself, the deeper question for mental health professionals is why misinformation is seriously entertained. Is one to conclude that people are uniformed, unable to distinguish truth from fantasy, or simply incapable of critical thinking? I think not. A more useful approach is to consider the free-rider problem, a theoryabout human behavior prominent in the …

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