National defense is a classic example of a public good because
A)there is no market for private security services.
B)it is difficult to exclude people from receiving the benefits from national defense once it is provided.
C)everyone agrees that some level of national defense is important, but only the government knows the optimal amount.
D)there are no private firms willing to supply defense goods such as tanks and weapons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

National defense is a public good because it is difficult to exclude people from receiving the benefits once it is provided. This is because national defense protects the population as a whole and not just specific individuals or groups. It is also non-rivalrous, meaning that one person's consumption of national defense does not reduce the amount available for others to consume.

National Defense Is a Classic Example of a Public Good