The reason why national defense is commonly provided by the government, while food is not, is that food:
A)is too essential to survival to be provided by a bureaucratic organization.
B)manufacturers have successfully lobbied the government to stay out of the food industry.
C)can easily be withheld from those who refuse to pay for it.
D)provision is subject to a free-rider problem.

Question

The reason why national defense is commonly provided by the government, while food is not, is that food:
A)is too essential to survival to be provided by a bureaucratic organization.
B)​manufacturers have successfully lobbied the government to stay out of the food industry.
C)can easily be withheld from those who refuse to pay for it.
D)provision is subject to a free-rider problem.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Food can easily be withheld from those who refuse to pay for it, making it a good that can be efficiently provided by the market. In contrast, national defense is a public good from which individuals cannot be excluded, leading to a free-rider problem if it were not provided by the government.

The Reason Why National Defense Is Commonly Provided by the Government