Europe is the free-rider continent
Europe is the free-rider continent
 Feb 26th 2022CLEVER ROAD cyclists who run out of puff keep up the pace by discreetly tucking themselves behind faster riders. Carried by this slipstream, it is easy to get comfortable, if not outright lazy. Why expend the effort needed to forge ahead if you can get away with this dolce vita? Occasionally laggards have to soothe the tired (and increasingly irate) front-runner with a vague pledge to “pull their weight”. That seems like a small price to pay. Only much later, perhaps ensconced in the comfort of a peloton, does the realisation dawn that staying too long in the rear means blindly following someone else down a road not necessarily of your choosing.This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “The free-rider continent”Europe February 26th 2022Turkey’s rapprochement with Russia may not survive the war in UkraineMoney matters take centre-stage in France’s electionThe leader of Spain’s main opposition party is oustedDid Pope Francis restrict defendants’ rights?An EU scheme to limit the use of dangerous gases runs into problemsEurope is the free-rider continentFrom the February 26th 2022 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the editionReuse this content