Lesson Plan

• Define public goods and identify their non‑excludable and non‑rivalrous traits.
• Compare public and private goods using key attributes.
• Explain the free‑rider problem and its effect on market provision.
• Evaluate government interventions that correct market failure for public goods.
• Apply classification criteria to real‑world examples of public goods.

• Projector and screen for slides/diagrams
• Whiteboard and markers
• Handout summarising characteristics and comparison table
• Printed case examples of public goods (e.g., national defence, parks)
• Worksheet with short questions on the free‑rider problem
• Calculator (optional) for simple calculations

Begin with a quick poll: “What services do we all use without paying each time?” Connect this to students’ prior knowledge of private goods and set the success criteria: students will be able to define, compare, and evaluate public goods and related market issues.

1. Do‑now (5') – short quiz on distinguishing private vs. public goods.
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – definition, non‑excludability, non‑rivalry, and positive externalities (slide & diagram).
3. Guided comparison (10') – analyse the provided table, discuss differences and market outcomes.
4. Group case study (15') – examine a free‑rider scenario, identify problems, propose government solutions.
5. Whole‑class debrief (5') – groups share proposals; teacher links to taxation, direct provision, regulation.
6. Exit ticket (5') – write a concise definition of a public good and give one example.

Recap the defining features of public goods, the free‑rider problem, and why government action is required. Collect exit tickets to check understanding, and assign a brief homework: research a local public good and explain how it is financed.