Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of the free rider problem as it relates to public goods and market failure?

The free rider problem happens when people benefit from a good or service without paying for it, leading to a situation where not enough of the good is produced or provided. A good example is a public park that everyone can enjoy without paying an entrance fee. If many people visit the park but few contribute to its maintenance, the park may become dirty or unsafe over time because there aren’t enough funds to keep it nice. This shows how the free rider problem can lead to market failure, where the park’s quality decreases because the costs are not shared fairly among all users. In this way, the benefits of the park are enjoyed by everyone, but the responsibility to support it falls on only a few.