Public Wealth is the total value of assets and services that are owned, managed, or made available to serve the public good. It helps make communities healthier, safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
Public wealth comes in two main forms:
Public Assets — the valuable things available to the public
Public Services — the activities and support systems provided to the public
Public Wealth grows when all parts of society — governments, nonprofits, private citizens, and businesses — contribute valuable assets and meaningful services that benefit everyone.
Public Assets
Public Assets are the buildings, land, infrastructure, and resources that communities rely on — either owned directly by the public or made available for public use.
Examples
Governments - Parks, libraries, schools, fire stations, roads, bridges
Nonprofits - Protected lands, museums, community centers
Private Individuals - Donated land for parks, endowments for public libraries, art collections shared with museums
For-Profit Businesses - Networks open to public access, infrastructure built through public-private partnerships
Even when not government-owned, assets can still add to public wealth if they are accessible to the community and serve a broader public purpose.
Public Services
Public Services are programs and activities that meet public needs — like education, safety, health care, transportation, and cultural enrichment.
Examples
Governments - Public schooling, police and fire services, social programs, public transportation
Nonprofits - Homeless shelters, food pantries, free clinics, youth programs
Private Individuals - Volunteer-run programs, funding scholarships, organizing free events
For-Profit Businesses - Private services, affordable housing projects
Services don’t have to be free to add to public wealth — they simply need to serve broad community needs in an accessible and sustainable way.