Which of the following is a classic example of a public good provided by government?

• A. National defense.
• B. Private golf course.
• C. A personal laptop.
• D. A restaurant meal.

Answer: (A)

A public good is non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning people can’t be meaningfully kept out and one person’s use doesn’t reduce another’s. Governments provide these goods because markets tend to undersupply them and people can’t be expected to pay for something everyone benefits from (the free-rider problem). National defense fits this perfectly: everyone in the country benefits from security, and protecting one person doesn’t diminish protection for others.

The other options don’t fit as public goods. A private golf course can restrict who plays and, as more players use it, the experience or access can be limited, so it’s excludable and rivalrous. A personal laptop is owned by an individual, can be kept from others, and its use is limited to that person, making it a private good. A restaurant meal is purchased and consumed by a specific person, so it’s also excludable and rivalrous.