Non-Excludable Goods

Non-excludable goods are products or services that once provided, it’s difficult or impossible to prevent others from benefiting from them. For example, public street lighting benefits everyone in the area, regardless of whether they contributed to its cost. Because people cannot be easily excluded from using these goods, individuals or organizations might have little motivation to pay for them, which can lead to the "free-rider" problem. These goods are typically provided by governments or public entities to ensure everyone has access, such as clean air, national defense, or public broadcasting.