It's a shame about my street

[Borodog]

A very nice little old lady that lives on our street decided that there was just too much trash along the sides of the public road that we live on. She canvased the neighborhood looking for volunteers to help her pick up the trash. Since my wife takes regular jogs with our dog, she said she would be happy to pick up any trash she saw while running.

I have tried to explain to her about all of the free riders who will benefit from all of the positive externalities she will be creating, which will surely prevent her from picking up the trash. I mean, I don't want her wasting her time and effort on something that any economist who understands the theory of positive externalities and public goods knows will end in failure. But she won't listen. She just keeps picking up trash.

She's just a girl though; it's not like she can understand simple economics.