What characteristic is generally associated with public goods?

Public goods are defined by two main characteristics: they are non-excludable and non-rivalrous. Non-excludable means that it is not feasible to prevent anyone from using the good, regardless of whether they have paid for it or not. This characteristic ensures that individuals cannot be excluded from enjoying the benefits of the good, which is essential for things like national defense or clean air.

The concept of public goods highlights their collective nature—when one individual benefits from the good, it does not diminish the ability of others to benefit from it as well. Therefore, public goods are inherently made accessible to everyone, fulfilling the principle of universal availability without direct payments.

Understanding this aspect clarifies why public goods do not operate based on the ability or willingness of individuals to pay, which differentiates them from private goods where access can be limited and influenced by financial contributions.