Public service

<p>A public service or service of general (economic) interest is any <a href="/facts/Service_(economics)/B7L4tR8r">service</a> intended to address specific needs pertaining to the aggregate members of a community, whether provided directly by a <a href="/facts/Public_sector/bV8gdzPu">public sector</a> agency, via public financing available to private businesses or voluntary organisations, or provided by private businesses subject to a high level of government regulation. Some public services are provided on behalf of a government's residents or in the <a href="/facts/Public_interest/lu6EIYrP">interest</a> of its citizens. The term is associated with a social consensus (usually expressed through democratic <a href="/facts/Election/oS1sLBlf">elections</a>) that certain services should be available to all, regardless of <a href="/facts/Income/T1B63U7z">income</a>, <a href="/facts/Physical_ability/5gB3MoYU">physical ability</a> or <a href="/facts/Intelligence/pRmAeRsw">mental acuity</a>. Examples of such services include the <a href="/facts/Fire_department/4N6R8YdV">fire services</a>, <a href="/facts/Police/rrdGISgt">police</a>, <a href="/facts/Air_force/M9LeqXoY">air force</a>, <a href="/facts/Paramedic/crUNVATd">paramedics</a> and <a href="/facts/Public_broadcasting/Ez3ayURb">public service broadcasting</a>.
</p><p>Even where public services are neither publicly provided nor <a href="/facts/Public_finance/BXrbm9Mb">publicly financed</a>, they are usually subject to <a href="/facts/Regulation/eFR0l2x9">regulation</a> going beyond that applying to most <a href="/facts/Economic_sector/BuYEmoDX">economic sectors</a> for social and political reasons. <a href="/facts/Public_policy/fYl7gXaC">Public policy</a>, when made in the public's interest and with its motivations, is a type of public service.
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Public service open-in-new

Public service