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In Economics, what is a Public Good?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

In economic terms, a public good is a produced good or service that is widely available to consumers. In defining a public good, the item will usually be referred to as non-rivalous, non-excludable, or both. The identification of an item as a public good is normally for purposes of analysis, since it is very hard to find goods created for sale to consumers that do not match this criteria.

When a public good is said to be non-rivalous, that simply means that the item remains widely available for consumption by all consumers, even when one consumer had engaged in consumption of the good. Non-rivalous goods can be thought of as easily renewed, or so plentiful that the consumption by one consumer in no way inhibits consumption by others. An example would be an ear of corn picked from a cornfield. While the one ear has been consumed, there are still many other ears of corn that are available for consumption.

Corn is an example of a non-rivalous public good.
Corn is an example of a non-rivalous public good.

A public good is also often classed as being non-excludable. This means that just about anyone can make use of the good in some manner, essentially making that public good universal. Public services are a good example of non-excludable goods, since anyone can receive benefit from the presence of a police force or a fire department, regardless of their condition or economic status.

Non-rivalous goods can be thought of as easily renewed, or so plentiful that the consumption by one consumer in no way inhibits consumption by others.
Non-rivalous goods can be thought of as easily renewed, or so plentiful that the consumption by one consumer in no way inhibits consumption by others.

There are a few basic examples of products that do not meet the basic definition of a public good. One has to do with obtaining professional services, such as those of a doctor or lawyer. When an individual makes an appointment with either of these professionals, he or she is effectively buying the time of that professional. That same time cannot be consumed by any other individual, thus making the duration of the appointment excludable and rivaled. In like manner, many drugs are limited when it comes to consumer access, with some requiring a prescription by a qualified medical professional. The fact that some are excluded from access to those drugs means that medications of this type are considered excludable and rivaled, and thus not a public good.

Over time, advances in technology have created new types of public goods. The electric powered street light is an example of a public good that became common in the early years of the twentieth century. Since its light was available for anyone to enjoy as they walked down a street, the device met the criteria of being non-excludable and non-rivaled. Today, products such as software packages are often classified as public goods. This is particularly true with products such as free software that is widely available to anyone who wishes to use it, with no barriers of cost or economy to inhibit the consumption.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

fify

@serenesurface-- That's an excellent question.

I'm no expert on the topic but I'm also of the view that food is a private good. There might have been a time when food was a public good (when land wasn't privatized), but it's not now. As you said, we have to pay for it and it's not unlimited. So it's a private good. People have access to food only as much as they can afford it. There are government programs like food stamps that try make food available to everyone but I don't consider that all-encompassing.

A better example of a public good is air. We don't pay for it and we won't run out (unless it's so polluted one day that we can't breathe it anymore!)

serenesurface

Is food really a public good considering that there isn't an unlimited supply and it costs money?

There are lots of people with low income that can't afford every type of produce on the market. I don't see how it's a public good when people don't have equal access to it.

SteamLouis

I think that media ought to be a public good. If software can be, then why can't media?

There are many anti-piracy movements for media like music, films and books. I personally don't believe that these goods should be rivalous any longer. We are in a new era now and as much as we try to fight piracy, it still happens. Even the biggest companies have not been able to prevent it despite all their efforts. So why not make these public goods?

I know a filmmaker who feels the same way. He released his film on the internet on the same day that it released in theaters. Now that's forward thinking and I wish other artists and filmmakers followed suit.

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    • Corn is an example of a non-rivalous public good.
      By: smereka
      Corn is an example of a non-rivalous public good.
    • Non-rivalous goods can be thought of as easily renewed, or so plentiful that the consumption by one consumer in no way inhibits consumption by others.
      By: Massimo Cattaneo
      Non-rivalous goods can be thought of as easily renewed, or so plentiful that the consumption by one consumer in no way inhibits consumption by others.