Reducing Global Warming And Working For Common Good: What Inspires Collective Cooperation?
Friday, July 11, 2008 - 14:21
in Psychology & Sociology
No one enjoys paying taxes. Even so, we need taxes if we want our streets clean, a proper public health care system, an educated population or the maintenance of Earth's climate within habitable boundaries. This is what scientists commonly refer as public goods -- benefits that everyone receives whether or not they contribute to them. The missing link between paying and benefiting from a public good creates an obvious dilemma and temptation to cheat (not to cooperate): Why shouldn't I let the others pay for it?