Why is national defense a public good? I. because it is expensive to produce II. because people who don't pay for national defense still benefit from having it III. because one person's benefit from national defense doesn't reduce anyone else's benefit from it IV. because it is provided by the government

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National defense is a public good because people who don't pay for it (such as tourists or individuals who do not contribute taxes) still benefit from its provision and one person's benefit doesn't reduce anyone else's benefit from it. The cost of production (I) is not the defining characteristic of a public good, and while national defense is often provided by the government (IV), this is not the only reason it is a public good.

Why Is National Defense a Public Good? I