In health economics, what are "public goods" characterized by?

Public goods are characterized by being non-excludable and non-rivalrous. This definition is central to the understanding of public goods in economics, particularly in the context of health economics.

Non-excludability means that it is not feasible to prevent individuals from using the good once it is provided. For instance, when a country provides public health services, such as disease prevention or health education, everyone benefits from these services regardless of whether they contribute to funding them.

Non-rivalrousness indicates that one person's consumption of the good does not diminish its availability for others. Continuing with the healthcare example, if one person benefits from a public health campaign, it does not detract from others also benefiting from the same campaign.

Understanding public goods is crucial for policymakers in health economics, as these characteristics often justify government intervention to ensure these goods are provided since private markets may not supply them adequately.