ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 1 2025
UNIQUE NO. 157760
DUE DATE: 22 APRIL 2025
, ECS2606
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2025
Unique Number: 157760
Due Date: 22 April 2025
Environmental Economics
Question 1
1.1 The Free-Rider Problem and Cleaning the Lake
The free-rider problem happens when people benefit from something without paying for
it. In this case, you want to clean up a lake where ten households live. Since everyone
will enjoy the clean water, fresh air, and improved health, they should all contribute to
the cost of cleaning. However, some households may decide not to pay, thinking that
others will cover the cost while they still get the benefits.
For example, if you charge each household the same amount, some might argue that
they don’t pollute as much or that they can’t afford it, so they refuse to pay. Others
might assume that since the lake is getting cleaned anyway, their contribution won’t
make a difference, so they avoid paying. As a result, fewer people pay, and not enough
money is collected to clean the lake properly.
This free-rider problem is common in public goods—things that everyone can use, like
parks, clean air, and streetlights. The challenge is finding a fair way to get everyone to
contribute so the lake can be cleaned without relying on just a few responsible
households.