The
public sector is the part of the economy concerned with providing various
government services. The composition of the public sector varies by country, but in most countries the public sector includes such services as the
military,
police,
infrastructure (
public roads,
bridges,
tunnels,
water supply,
sewers,
electrical grids,
telecommunications, etc.),
public transit,
public education, along with
health care and
those working for the government itself, such as
elected officials. The public sector might provide services that a non-payer cannot be excluded from (such as
street lighting), services which benefit all of society rather than just the individual who uses the service.