Public goods are non diminishable, non rivalrous and non excludable. Light houses and street lights are often cited as examples. If it was left to the free market to supply these goods they would be underprovided as people can 'free ride.' Lets say that Brendan decided to put a streetlight outside his house - he could not stop Carl, his next door neighbour from using or benefiting from it (non excludable).
Another good example of public goods is flood defence schems. This winter the UK suffered from heavy rains. The government has been critisied in the past from not spending enough on flood defence - did they do enough this year? Watch this VIDEO and this VIDEO for more information.
The UK is not the only country in Europe to suffer from flooding - Venice whilst famous for its canals is also sinking. Watch THIS clip from more information.
Things to think about:
a) Are these flood defences non-excludable?
b) Are these flood defences non-rival?
c) So, are these flood defences a pubic, quasi-public or private good?
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