Ickeförbrukande

Ickeförbrukande refers to a characteristic of certain goods or services where their use or consumption does not diminish the available quantity of the good or service for others. This concept is often contrasted with rivalrous goods, where consumption by one person prevents consumption by another. Examples of ickeförbrukande goods and services include public goods like national defense or streetlights. Once provided, the benefit of these goods is available to everyone in the relevant area without reducing their availability for any individual. Similarly, knowledge can be considered ickeförbrukande; once a piece of information is known, its dissemination does not prevent others from also knowing it. The concept is important in economics, particularly when discussing market failures and the role of government in providing certain types of goods and services. Because ickeförbrukande goods are often non-excludable as well, it can be difficult for private markets to efficiently supply them, leading to the free-rider problem. This means individuals may benefit from the good without contributing to its cost, as they cannot be excluded from its consumption.