Nongivers

Nongivers is a term used in social and economic theory to describe individuals who do not contribute resources, time, or effort in a setting where others do, thereby benefiting from collective goods or shared platforms without proportional sacrifice. It is a descriptive label rather than a fixed category, and its precise meaning varies by context, such as public goods, open-source projects, or online communities.

Origins and usage: The term is a neologism that has emerged in discussions of cooperation, reciprocity, and organizational governance. It is often contrasted with contributors or givers and is frequently used to analyze free-riding dynamics in collective-action problems.

Behavior and contexts: In different environments, nongivers may primarily be consumers rather than producers. For example, in a crowdsourced project or community resource, nongivers might use services or benefit from shared data without contributing code, data, or funds. In charitable networks or mutual aid groups, they may participate as recipients while contributing little of their own. The term is also used in analyses of online platforms where users consume content or bandwidth without contributing.

Implications and responses: The presence of nongivers can influence perceived fairness, trust, and sustainability of cooperation. Communities and organizations address this through reputational systems, contribution requirements, tipping or matched-donation schemes, or governance rules designed to align incentives and reduce free-riding.

See also: free rider, public goods, reciprocity, social capital, moral hazard, lurker.