Examples of Public Goods:

1. Clean Air: Everyone can breathe clean air, and one person’s breathing does not reduce the amount of clean air available to others.
2. National Defense: Protection provided by a nation’s military benefits all citizens, regardless of whether they contribute directly to its funding.
3. Public Parks: Access to public parks is generally open to all, and one person’s enjoyment of the park does not significantly reduce its availability to others.
4. Street Lighting: Street lights provide illumination for everyone in the area without diminishing the light available to others.
5. Public Broadcasting (e.g., NPR, BBC): These are services that broadcast information and entertainment to the public without charging individuals directly for access.

Key Points:

• Non-excludability makes it hard to charge people directly for using public goods, leading to potential issues like the “free rider problem,” where individuals benefit without contributing to the cost.
• Non-rivalry ensures that the good is available to everyone equally, which is why such goods are often provided or maintained by governments or public entities.

These goods are crucial for societal well-being and are often funded through taxation or other collective means.