Which of the following statements accurately describe the characteristics of public goods and the implications of the free rider problem? Select all that apply.

Public goods are items that everyone can use without reducing their availability to others, like clean air or national defense. This means that when one person benefits from a public good, it doesn't take away from anyone else's ability to enjoy it. However, the free rider problem occurs when individuals benefit from a public good without contributing to its cost, leading to underfunding or overuse of these goods. For example, if a community builds a park funded by taxes, some people might use the park without paying taxes, relying on others to cover the expenses. This situation can make it hard to maintain or create new public goods since not everyone is willing to pay their fair share.