The BEST example of a common resource(s) is/are:
cable television programming.
fish to catch in a local public lake.
public education.
a football match.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The best example of a common resource from the options provided is fish to catch in a local public lake.
A common resource is one that is non-excludable but rivalrous. This means that no one can be effectively excluded from using the resource, but its consumption by one individual reduces its availability for others. Fish in a public lake fit this description. People can fish without restrictions (non-excludable), but the more fish that are caught, the fewer fish remain for others to catch (rivalrous).
Cable television programming is a club good or excludable good, as access can be restricted to subscribers, making it not a common resource. Public education, on the other hand, is a public good that is non-rivalrous and non-excludable. A person using public education doesn’t reduce the availability of education for others, so it’s not a common resource. Finally, a football match is more of a private good or sometimes a club good, as access is generally restricted (by tickets or broadcasting rights), and attending or watching one game does not prevent others from attending or watching the same game.
The key concept with common resources is that they tend to be subject to the tragedy of the commons. This occurs when individuals overuse or deplete a resource, driven by self-interest, because there are no clear rules or enforcement about the consumption of that resource. An example would be overfishing in a public lake. If everyone takes as many fish as they can, without regard for future availability, the fish population can be exhausted, leading to a loss of the resource for everyone.
Therefore, fish in a public lake is the best example of a common resource among the options listed.