Entanglement renders free riding redundant in the thermodynamic limit

Abstract

The free rider problem is one of the most well studied problems in economics. The solution proposed mainly is punitive in order to deter people from free riding. In this work we introduce quantum strategies and also study the problem by using the mathematical structure of 1D Ising model in the infinite player limit. We observe that for maximum entanglement the quantum strategy is always the equilibrium solution, i.e., the strategy chosen by majority of the players independent of the payoffs, solving the free rider problem.

Bacterial cooperation through horizontal gene transfer

“…The nature of public goods can lead to the free-rider problem, whereby some individuals capitalize on the public goods secreted by others (i.e., cheaters) [16,17]. These non-producers enjoy a relative fitness advantage over producers as they reap the benefits of cooperation without sharing in the costs.…”