Paradise

The music video for Paradise follows the quest of an elephant to escape a zoo in London and re-join his mates in Africa. On the journey we see the places and modes of transportation used to travel there. These images allow the viewer to better understand the distinction between the four types of goods (private, club, common resource, public).

Watch the lyric video and, in groups of two or three, answer the following questions.

  1. What type of good is a zoo?
  2. What type of good is a bicycle?
  3. What type of good is a subway?
  4. What type of good is an airline ticket?
  5. The elephant needs money to continue his journey, would you contribute some of your money to him? Why might you NOT contribute?
  6. Why does the elephant by a unicycle?
  7. What type of property would be a paradise for an elephant?
  8. What type of good is a concert?
  9. What are the definitions of private, club, common resource and public goods?

“Paradise”

When she was just a girl she expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep
Dreamed of para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes

When she was just a girl she expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
And the bullets catch in her teeth
Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she'd fly

Dream of para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh)

She'd dream of para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh)

Sing, la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
And so lying underneath those stormy skies
She'd say, "oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I know the sun must set to rise"

This could be para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

This could be para-para-paradise
(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh)

This could be para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

This could be para-para-paradise
Oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh, oh

This could be para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

This could be para-para-paradise
(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh)

This could be para, be paradise
Para-paradise
Para-paradise

(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh)

This could be para, be paradise
Para-paradise
Para-paradise

(Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh)

 Answer Key

1. What type of good is a zoo?

Answer: The zoo is a club good. You have to pay to enter (excludable), but once you are inside everyone gets to see the animals (non-rival).

2. What type of good is a bicycle?

Answer: Bicycles are private goods (excludable) that are owned by someone and when you use one, no one else can ride it at the same time (rival).

3. What type of good is a subway? 

Answer: Subways are club goods. You have to pay to ride (excludable) but more than one person can ride on a train at the same time (non-rival).

4. What type of good is an airline ticket?

Answer: Airline tickets are bought using your name and are non-transferable (excludable). They are a private good since you are assigned a specific seat (rival) and class of service.

5. The elephant needs money to continue his journey, would you contribute some of your money to him? Why might you NOT contribute?

Answer: You might contribute to the elephant to help his cause because you value his welfare. But, some people might value his welfare and still not contribute, hoping that he will get all the money he requires without relinquishing any of their own. The people who do not contribute are known as free-riders.

6. Why does the elephant buy a unicycle?

Answer: The elephant wants a bicycle (it is faster) but he can only afford the unicycle. The unicycle is an inferior good.

7. What type of property would be a paradise for an elephant?

Answer: A place that is both non-rival and non-excludable. A place so large that elephants can roam freely wherever they want. This is known as a public good.

8. What type of good is a concert?

Answer: A concert is non-rival (everyone gets to enjoy the show) and excludable (you must have a ticket to enter) so it is a club good.

9. What are the definitions of private, club, common resource and public goods?

Answer: A private good is rival and excludable. A club good is non-rival and excludable. A common resource good is rival and non-excludable. A public good is non-rival and non-excludable.