test 7 public goods


1) Which statement is correct?

  • Option A

    Free-riding behaviour is a direct result of the fact that public goods are non-excludable.

  • Option B

    Non-rivalry implies that the marginal cost of production is zero.

  • Option C

    The fish stocks in the ocean are "common goods", they are excludable.

  • Option D

    The fish stocks in the ocean are "common goods". There is no rivalry.


Answers c and d are wrong. Fish stocks are commons, implying that they are non-excludable, but rival.

non-rivalry implies that the MC of extra consumption of the public good is 0 not that the MC of producing that unit of public good is 0

Answer a is correct.A


2) The 'Manneken Pis' statue in Brussels best meets the characteristics of a:

  • Option A

    private good.

  • Option B

    public good.

  • Option C

    club good.

  • Option D

    common good


Answer b is correct. A public statue has the characteristics of public good, it is non-excludable and non-rival.B


3) A wild chestnut that falls on the ground in the city park most closely resembles the characteristics of a:

  • Option A

    club good;

  • Option B

    common good;

  • Option C

    private good;

  • Option D

    public good;


wild chestnuts in the woods are rival and non-excludable, so common goods. Answer b B


4) Which statement is correct?

  • Option A

    Free-riding behaviour is a direct consequence of the non-rivalry of public goods.

  • Option B

    Walnuts that fall on the ground in a public forest are closest to the characteristics of a public good (rather than a private good, club good or common resource).

  • Option C

    A fitness subscription is a club good as there is rivalry and non-exclusion.

  • Option D

    Free market forces generally lead to underproduction of public goods.


Answer a is wrong. freebooter behavior is the result of non-excludability

Answer b is wrong. walnuts in forest are commons

Answer c is wrong. is a club good because there is excludability but non-rivalry

Answer d is correct. D


5) The free functioning of private market leads to insufficient provision of public goods because:

  • Option A

    the government will produce public goods in such a way that the private market no longer has a role to play.

  • Option B

    there is no way of making people pay for consuming public goods once they are made available to one person.

  • Option C

    the marginal cost of producing public goods is zero.

  • Option D

    the government must save to keep its budget in balance.


Answer a is wrong. government must be responsible for organization, but not necessarily for production. there is therefore still a role for the private market

Answer b is correct. as a result of non-excludability and non-rivalry

Answer c is wrong. marginal cost of extra use is zero, not marginal cost of production

Answer d is not relevant.B


6) The free-riding problem in public goods stems from the fact that:

  • Option A

    everyone has to pay taxes.

  • Option B

    the good is offered by the government.

  • Option C

    the marginal cost of additional consumption is equal to zero.

  • Option D

    no one can be excluded from consumption.


the free rider problem originates from the fact that once the good is there no one can be excluded from consumption. So answer d.D


7 ) Which of the following is a public good?

  • Option A

    The formula for calculating the area of a circle;

  • Option B

    A free barrel of beer at a school party;

  • Option C

    The information on the KUL internal Toledo website;

  • Option D

    A seat in a football stadium.


Answer a is correct. Non-excludable, non-rival

Answer b is wrong. Non-excludable, rival

Answer c is wrong. Excludable, non-rival

Answer d is wrong. Excludable, rival A


8)A lecture "Managerial Economics" at KUL (in normal, non-corona circumstances) most closely reflects the characteristics of a:

  • Option A

    private good;

  • Option B

    public good;

  • Option C

    common good;

  • Option D

    club good.


The classes in Microeconomics are excludable (only for KUL students) but not rival. So answer d D