4 ms·

I have access to the police, regardless of whether or not I have access to their weapons or evidence room. Shutting off the park limits access to a public good

I have access to the police, regardless of whether or not I have access to their weapons or evidence room. Shutting off the park limits access to a public good. It would be like the city police not responding to one part of town, and in this case (lotteries or patronage) ensures that the rich get served first. That would rub people the wrong way, I think. Does that clarify?

FeloniousHam 7y ago
National parks are not a perfect public good since they do have a practical limit on usage, unlike say, a lighthouse or clean air. Given this scarcity, a pricing mechanism such as tdaltonc suggests is reasonable solution.