A forced rider in economics is a person who is required, by government or other collective, to share in the costs of goods or services without desiring them. Such goods are typically non-excludable.
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Theory
Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous. As a result, some people may benefit from a public good without helping to cover the costs of production. This is known as the "free rider problem".
Collective payment schemes, such as taxes, have historically been used to address the free rider problem. However, compulsory payments may create situations in which individuals are required to contribute to the cost of public goods they would prefer not to support. This is called the "forced rider problem". Due to the nature of a non-excludable good, they do still receive the benefits of the good they are forced to pay for via taxation or other compulsory payment.
Forced riders in taxation
The forced rider has been cited in various authors' views concerning taxation.