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Pure Public Good
A pure public good is defined by two distinct characteristics: it is entirely non-rival and non-excludable. Non-rivalry in this context means that the marginal cost of providing the good to an additional consumer is zero. Non-excludability signifies that it is impossible to prevent any individual from enjoying the benefits of the good.
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Social Science
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CORE Econ
Economy
Economics
Introduction to Microeconomics Course
The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
Ch.10 Market successes and failures: The societal effects of private decisions - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
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Learn After
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To be classified as a 'pure public good,' a service must be both entirely non-rival (one person's use does not diminish its availability to others) and non-excludable (it is impossible to prevent people from benefiting). A city is evaluating several proposals for new services. Which of the following proposals provides the clearest example of a pure public good?
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Analyze each good or service listed below. Match it to the economic classification that best describes its properties, based on whether its consumption is 'rivalrous' (one person's use prevents another's) and 'excludable' (access can be restricted to only paying customers).
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