Rawls defines public goods as goods characterized by indivisibility and publicness—goods that many i… — John Rawls

Rawls defines public goods as goods characterized by indivisibility and publicness—goods that many individuals want but which, if provided at all, must be enjoyed in the same amount by each member of the relevant public—argues that in polar cases like national defense they must be provided and financed through the political process rather than the market, and notes that distribution costs are zero because all receive the same quantity.

By John Rawls, from A Theory of Justice

Key Arguments

He introduces the conceptual pair: 'The distinction between public and private goods raises a number of intricate points, but the main idea is that a public good has two characteristic features, indivisibility and publicness.'
He explains the sense of 'public': 'there are many individuals, a public so to speak, who want more or less of this good, but if they are to enjoy it at all must each enjoy the same amount.'
He contrasts them with private goods: 'The quantity produced cannot be divided up as private goods can and purchased by individuals according to their preferences for more and less.'
He allows different degrees and publics: 'There are various kinds of public goods depending upon their degree of indivisibility and the size of the relevant public.'
He gives the polar case: 'The polar case of a public good is full indivisibility over the whole society. A standard example is the defense of the nation against (unjustified) foreign attack.'
He draws the institutional consequence: 'The consequence of indivisibility and publicness in these cases is that the provision of public goods must be arranged for through the political process and not through the market.'
He emphasizes legislative determination of quantity and financing: 'Both the amount to be produced and its financing need to be worked out by legislation.'
He highlights lack of distributive problem: 'Since there is no problem of distribution in the sense that all citizens receive the same quantity, distribution costs are zero.'

Source Quotes

A second quite different feature of the public sector is the proportion of total social resources devoted to public goods. The distinction between public and private goods raises a number of intricate points, but the main idea is that a public good has two characteristic features, indivisibility and publicness. 139 That is, there are many individuals, a public so to speak, who want more or less of this good, but if they are to enjoy it at all must each enjoy the same amount.

The distinction between public and private goods raises a number of intricate points, but the main idea is that a public good has two characteristic features, indivisibility and publicness. 139 That is, there are many individuals, a public so to speak, who want more or less of this good, but if they are to enjoy it at all must each enjoy the same amount. The quantity produced cannot be divided up as private goods can and purchased by individuals according to their preferences for more and less.

There are various kinds of public goods depending upon their degree of indivisibility and the size of the relevant public. The polar case of a public good is full indivisibility over the whole society. A standard example is the defense of the nation against (unjustified) foreign attack.

The polar case of a public good is full indivisibility over the whole society. A standard example is the defense of the nation against (unjustified) foreign attack. All citizens must be provided with this good in the same amount; they cannot be given varying protection depending on their wishes.

All citizens must be provided with this good in the same amount; they cannot be given varying protection depending on their wishes. The consequence of indivisibility and publicness in these cases is that the provision of public goods must be arranged for through the political process and not through the market. Both the amount to be produced and its financing need to be worked out by legislation.

The consequence of indivisibility and publicness in these cases is that the provision of public goods must be arranged for through the political process and not through the market. Both the amount to be produced and its financing need to be worked out by legislation. Since there is no problem of distribution in the sense that all citizens receive the same quantity, distribution costs are zero.

Both the amount to be produced and its financing need to be worked out by legislation. Since there is no problem of distribution in the sense that all citizens receive the same quantity, distribution costs are zero. Various features of public goods derive from these two characteristics.

Key Concepts

a public good has two characteristic features, indivisibility and publicness.
if they are to enjoy it at all must each enjoy the same amount.
The polar case of a public good is full indivisibility over the whole society.
A standard example is the defense of the nation against (unjustified) foreign attack.
the provision of public goods must be arranged for through the political process and not through the market.
Both the amount to be produced and its financing need to be worked out by legislation.
Since there is no problem of distribution in the sense that all citizens receive the same quantity, distribution costs are zero.

Context

Middle of §42, where Rawls introduces his technical notion of public goods and draws institutional implications about how they must be provided in a just basic structure.