One distinguishing characteristic of a public good is
A)noncompetitive production.
B)durability.
C)non-excludability.
D)rivalrous consumption.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A public good is characterized by non-excludability, meaning that it is difficult or impossible to exclude anyone from consuming it once it is provided. This is in contrast to a private good, which can be easily excluded from those who do not pay for it. Noncompetitive production (A) and durability (B) are not defining characteristics of public goods. Rivalrous consumption (D) refers to the fact that the consumption of a good by one person reduces its availability for others, but public goods are not rivalrous.

One Distinguishing Characteristic of a Public Good Is