Economics Public Goods Questions Medium
The concept of public goods as a local impure public good refers to a specific type of public good that exhibits characteristics of both public goods and private goods.
Public goods are goods or services that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous in consumption. This means that once provided, individuals cannot be excluded from enjoying the benefits of the good, and one person's consumption does not diminish the availability of the good for others. Examples of pure public goods include national defense and street lighting.
However, in the case of local impure public goods, while they may be non-excludable, they may not be completely non-rivalrous in consumption. This means that the consumption of the good by one individual may reduce the availability or quality of the good for others, although to a lesser extent compared to private goods.
For instance, a local park can be considered a local impure public good. It is non-excludable as anyone can enter and enjoy the park, but it may have limitations in terms of capacity or resources. If too many people use the park at the same time, it may become overcrowded, leading to a reduction in the quality of the experience for all users. While it is not fully rivalrous like a private good, it still exhibits some rivalry in consumption.
In summary, the concept of public goods as a local impure public good refers to goods or services that possess characteristics of both public goods and private goods, where consumption by one individual may have some impact on the availability or quality of the good for others, although to a lesser extent than private goods.