Positive Externalities, Encouraging Innovation, and Free-Riders

Choose one of the below discussion topics and respond to this forum.

1.Chapter 13 introduces us to the topic of positive externalities. Can you share an example of a time when you yourself experienced some type of positive externality? Please explain.

2. As we learn in this chapter, the government can encourage innovationin an economy.Which of the three "alternative policies" to improving the rate of return for inventors (thereby encouraging future positive externalities) do you think is most effective, and why?

3.The concept of the "free rider" is described in this chapter as someone who lets others pay for a good and then "free rides" on the purchases of others. How does this topic tie in with the idea of public goods? Have you even been a "free rider" yourself? Please explain.