What type of good is often provided by the government because it is hard to get people to voluntarily contribute their fair share of the expense?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Public goods are often provided by the government because it is difficult to get individuals to voluntarily contribute their fair share of the cost. Public goods are non-excludable and non-rival, meaning that once they are provided, no one can be excluded from using them, and one person's use of the good does not diminish another's ability to use it. Because of these characteristics, individuals have an incentive to "free-ride" and not contribute to the provision of the good, making it difficult to provide through voluntary means.

What Type of Good Is Often Provided by the Government