In this blog post, we’ll examine the importance of personal responsibility and cooperation—as well as the long-term benefits that proper behavior brings to both individuals and society—through the lens of the free-rider problem in group projects.

Why does free-riding keep happening?

Have you ever seen the segment “The Cruel History of Group Projects” on the popular comedy show SNL? In the skit, the protagonist is assigned the role of group leader, while the other members make all sorts of excuses and simply put off the tasks they’re supposed to do. Ultimately, the group project ends up becoming the group leader’s personal assignment.
What surprised me about this video—more than the content itself—was the fact that so many people deeply related to it. In college, no matter what major you’re in, it’s hard to avoid group work. You might think that group assignments—where tasks are divided among several people—would be less burdensome than individual assignments. So why do so many students find group assignments even more difficult?
The reason is that free-riding occurs so frequently that the term “group project free-riding” has become a natural part of the lexicon. So, how can we reduce this free-riding and create the most ideal group dynamic? Furthermore, why should we live honestly and avoid free-riding as we go through life?

Causes of Free-Riding

To solve the problem of free-riding, we first need to examine its causes. The original purpose of group assignments is to foster cooperation and teamwork, and to produce better results through synergy.
However, free-riders tend to view group assignments as “tasks that someone else will eventually do even if I don’t.” While the outcome of an individual assignment depends on one’s own effort, group assignments involve a division of labor; free-riders exploit the fact that the assignment can still be completed even if they don’t do their part, as someone else will take care of it.
Taking advantage of this structure, free-riders procrastinate on their assigned tasks until the last minute or pass them off to others. This is because they believe that even if they don’t do the work, another group member will eventually handle it. As a result, diligent students or group leaders who want to earn good grades end up having to take on the share of work meant for the unreachable free-riders.

How can we create the best group activities?

So, what methods are needed to create group activities that satisfy everyone?
Ultimately, to prevent free-riding by a few, it is necessary to verify whether each member has properly fulfilled their assigned role and to reflect this in the evaluation. However, surveys conducted only after all assignments are completed or at the end of the semester—as is currently the case—are not sufficient. This is because if a free-rider is a senior to other group members or holds a position of psychological superiority, even such evaluations are likely to be distorted.
Therefore, the key is to create an evaluation environment that is difficult to manipulate. So, what methods are available?

The first method: increasing the number of short-term projects

The first method involves increasing the number of group assignments that are completed within a relatively short period, rather than large-scale projects that run for a long time.
Long-term projects typically proceed by having each member work on their assigned portion for a certain period, after which the group leader compiles the work and submits the final product. The longer the project duration, the longer the time each member has before submitting their individual work.
Think back to your own experience. For example, suppose there’s an assignment due in two weeks. When do most people finish it? You can probably easily picture many people waiting until right before the deadline to complete their work.
The more time people feel they have, the more they tend to procrastinate, lulled by a sense of relief that “there’s still plenty of time left.” With individual assignments, you ultimately have to finish the work yourself—even at the last minute—but the situation is slightly different for group projects.
In group assignments, there’s often a period of time remaining between when the group leader compiles the materials and the final submission deadline. This creates the most favorable environment for free-riders. Not only can they pass the time without being pressured by other group members, but there’s also enough leeway for other members to revise or write the assignment on their behalf, even if they ultimately fail to submit it.
Conversely, in short-term projects where both the period leading up to the data collection deadline and the final revision period are brief, this free-riding can be significantly reduced. The shorter the time between the start of the assignment and the submission deadline, the more frequently group members check on the project’s progress, and they naturally share updates with one another. Furthermore, the justification for holding those who procrastinate on their assigned tasks accountable becomes much clearer.
Therefore, increasing the proportion of short-term projects relative to long-term ones can be an effective way to reduce free-riding.

The second method is to strengthen process-oriented assessment

The second method involves establishing a management system that monitors the progress of group assignments step by step. While this may be somewhat cumbersome for the instructor, it can be expected to be quite effective in reducing free-riding.
Recently, most assignments are submitted through the university’s online learning management system (LMS). By utilizing this system, instructors can set interim submission deadlines for group assignments in advance and create group or individual submission folders to ensure that each student submits their assigned portion by the specified deadline.
In this case, rather than evaluating the quality of the interim assignment itself, it is appropriate to verify whether it was submitted by the deadline and reflect this in the evaluation. The final grade should reflect both the final product and each student’s compliance with submission requirements.
Even if the content of interim assignments is excluded from evaluation, imposing a certain level of penalty for missing submission deadlines can significantly prevent free-riding. This approach instills the same sense of responsibility in group assignments as in individual assignments, encouraging all members to fulfill their roles diligently.

What is the fundamental solution?

However, the two methods presented above are merely institutional safeguards. A more fundamental solution is for every member to refrain from free-riding on their own accord.
So why should we resist the temptation of free-riding—which allows us to achieve the same results without working—and insist on living the right way?
A free-rider can achieve the same results with less effort while others work hard, and use the remaining time for their own leisure. At first glance, this might seem like a very efficient choice.
So why should we give up this “sweet temptation” and choose to live the right way?
I believe we must view the reason from a long-term perspective, rather than focusing on short-term gains.

In the long run, free-riding is a loss

Just like the free-riding we examined earlier, most unethical behavior is motivated by a desire to avoid immediate losses or gain immediate benefits. Free-riding also appears to be a highly efficient behavior in the short term, as it allows one to gain the benefit of “rest” while minimizing effort. It may seem like a choice that yields maximum utility with minimal effort.
However, if we broaden our perspective even slightly, the story changes. Such behavior ultimately results in voluntarily reducing the greater benefits that could come back to oneself in the long run.
As a first piece of evidence, we can cite the repeated reciprocity hypothesis introduced in ‘The Emergence of the Altruistic Human’. This hypothesis is explained through repeated game scenarios. As the game is repeated, people choose either to cooperate or to defect; however, since choosing to defect increases the likelihood of retaliation from the other party in subsequent rounds, cooperating ultimately becomes the more advantageous choice.
The retaliation referred to here does not simply mean immediate punishment within the game itself. Modern society is one in which people live while forming relationships with far more people and in far more diverse ways than in the past. No one can predict when or how a selfish action taken for momentary gain will come back to harm them.
If you lose trust for the sake of momentary convenience, you may lose future opportunities for cooperation, or your reputation may suffer, leading to unexpected disadvantages. When these long-term losses are taken into account, free-riding can hardly be considered an efficient strategy.

Trust and cooperation become long-term assets

In the same vein, the second argument is the communication hypothesis. Today, thanks to advances in information and communication technology, connections between people are more active than ever. In such a society, communication skills and interpersonal relationships become extremely important assets for individuals.
Positive communication builds mutual trust, and this accumulated trust fosters a willingness to continue cooperating in the future. People want to work with those they can trust again, and relationships based on mutual support naturally form.
Throughout history, humanity has been unable to survive without cooperating with others. Acting selfishly for short-term gain and thereby losing the support of others is a significant loss from a long-term perspective. Conversely, a reputation for being sincere and responsible generates even greater value over time. Ultimately, acting rightly is not a sacrifice for others but an investment in one’s future self.

Right conduct also benefits society as a whole

The reason we should live righteously can be explained not only in terms of long-term personal benefit but also in terms of the benefit to society as a whole.
If most people live by adhering to social norms—including laws, customs, ethics, and morals—society will achieve far greater development and maturity than one where people do not.
For example, let’s consider farming, which was once a vital means of livelihood for humanity. Suppose there is Village A, where people think only of their own interests and manage only their own fields, and Village B, where people help one another whenever difficult tasks arise and farm together. If the climate, soil, and natural environment of both villages are identical, which village is more likely to yield a better harvest?
The answer is clear. Village B, where members cooperate with one another and tackle difficult tasks together, is much more likely to achieve higher productivity and better results. This is because cooperation has the power not only to reduce individual labor but also to increase the efficiency of the entire community.
The same applies to social norms. From minor acts of cutting in line to serious crimes, most violations of social norms are committed for one’s own short-term gain or pleasure. If everyone were to pursue only their own interests and ignore social norms, society would lose trust, and eventually, it would become difficult to maintain the community itself.

Synergy Effects Found in Nature

The synergy created by cooperation can also be easily observed in nature. A prime example is migratory birds that travel long distances each season.
You may have seen migratory birds flying in a V-formation as they travel long distances. This flight pattern is not a mere coincidence but an efficient method of travel that utilizes aerodynamic principles.
When the bird in front flaps its wings, an updraft is created behind it. The birds following behind can use this updraft to fly with less effort. Actual research has shown that this flight pattern reduces energy consumption compared to flying individually. Furthermore, flying in a flock increases the efficiency of long-distance migration and helps the flock maintain its direction and detect dangers.
In this way, cooperative behavior not only reduces the burden on individuals but also improves the performance of the group as a whole. Human society is no different. The more members there are who show consideration for one another and fulfill their responsibilities, the greater the efficiency and stability of society as a whole can become.

The Greatest Synergy Created by Right Action

People live their lives valuing their own interests and efficiency above all else. They often view doing the right thing as a sacrifice for society—a choice that results in personal loss. Consequently, they may regard actions that involve giving up immediate gains as inefficient, or mistakenly believe that doing the right thing means suffering a loss.
However, if we broaden our perspective just a little, we see that right action is by no means a second-best option. Rather, it can be said to be the best choice, bringing the greatest benefit to both the individual and society.
As can be seen in the free-riding example from group projects, if everyone fulfills their role responsibly, the need to monitor, screen, or punish others is reduced. Unnecessary conflicts and emotional strain are also significantly reduced. As a result, the final product is of higher quality than one produced alone, and all members can share in the sense of accomplishment.
In this way, when the right actions of each individual come together, they go beyond mere personal good deeds and lead to a synergistic effect that drives society as a whole. When a culture of mutual trust and cooperation takes root, individuals gain greater opportunities for growth, and society can develop into a healthier and more sustainable community.