Question

In one to two sentences, explain why governments provide environmental protection. Include the concepts of public services and the free- rider problem in your answer.

Answer 1

Governments provide environmental protection because clean air, water, and ecosystem services are public services — often non‑excludable and non‑rival — that private markets tend to underprovide. Since individuals and firms can free‑ride on others’ conservation or pollution-control efforts, governments step in to supply, regulate, or finance protection to correct this market failure.