Define the term public good and give me two examples of public goods.

A public good is a good or service which is both non-rival and non-excludable. Non rival means that one person consuming the good does not stop somebody else from consuming it. For example, cake is rival, as if I eat a particular cake, nobody else can eat that same cake. Non-excludability refers to an inability to bar people from consuming the good; nobody can stop me from consuming street lamps when I walk down the street. Two examples of public goods are defence and street lighting.

TC
Answered by Tim C. Economics tutor

4064 Views

See similar Economics A Level tutors

Related Economics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain using a diagram the price/output of a firm competing in a perfectly competitive market during the long run. Is this equilibrium point beneficial?


Discuss the view that falling unemployment will inevitably lead to trade-offs with other macroeconomic policy objectives


What is the impact of a fall in the central bank interest rate on the macroeconomic performance of the UK economy?


Can you explain the difference between joint demand and competitive demand?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning