The “Free Destroyer Problem” and Global Public Goods
This paper explores the “Free Destroyer Problem”, which poses a threat to global public goods. The term free destroyer can be defined as someone who harms or destroys something that is good for everyone but requires everyone's cooperation to provide or protect. We provide six concrete examples of the “Free Destroyer Problem”, including a case study based on the Covid-19 pandemic. We propose engaging diverse stakeholders, developing a robust and inclusive global governance structure, and establishing innovative financing mechanisms. The provision and preservation of global public goods demands urgent collective action to mitigate potential catastrophic consequences.
The necessity of collective action in the modern worldWe live in a world that is more connected than ever before, but also faces many urgent challenges that require global cooperation. These challenges include stewardship of the global commons and providing global public goods – benefits that are shared by all people and all countries, such as international peace and security, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, tax evasion prevention, and universal vaccination. Providing these benefits is a daunting task for our society, especially when there are growing geopolitical divisions and no effective global governance system to coordinate such efforts.A key obstacle to this task is a classic problem in international relations called the “Free Rider Problem”. This problem occurs when all countries enjoy the benefits of…