As with many public goods, determining the appropriate level of government support for the production of general knowledge is difficult because
A)patents correct for an unknown portion of the externality.
B)benefits are hard to measure.
C)members of Congress are often experts in the sciences.
D)the costs always exceed the benefits.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difficulty in determining appropriate government support for the production of general knowledge stems from the challenge in accurately measuring the benefits of these types of goods. Unlike private goods, the benefits of public goods like general knowledge are often spread out among many individuals and may be difficult to quantify. This makes it challenging to determine the appropriate level of government funding and support. The other answers are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the challenges associated with producing general knowledge as a public good.

As with Many Public Goods, Determining the Appropriate Level of Government