Aristotle writes, "What is common to many is taken least care of, for all men have greater regard for what is their own than for what they possess in common with others." In this statement, Aristotle is referring to the free-rider problem that occurs when a person receives the benefit of a good without paying for it.

Free-Rider Problem

A situation in economics where individuals consume more than their fair share of a public resource, or shoulder less of the cost of its provision, leading to underproduction or depletion of the resource.

Aristotle

An ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, one of the greatest intellectual figures of Western history.