Is the Tendency to Free Ride Impacting Your Willingness to Pay for Public Healthcare

Abstract

Healthcare services differ from other public goods due to the characteristics
of their demand and supply. As a public good, its provision might allow for a free
rider effect. This study aimed at checking whether a patient’s overall tendency
to free ride impacts the Willingness to Pay for public healthcare access. The
study demonstrates that besides the experience level with the valued good, free
riding tendency also influenced the valuation. The results indicate that not only
past decisions about free riding but also readiness to free ride in the future might
change the willingness to pay for the public good.