Utilising the cheap and plentiful coal tar that was an almost unlimited byproduct of London's gas street lighting, the dye works began producing the world's first synthetically dyed material in 1857.

With a classic public good, such as street lighting, one person’s usage does not affect anyone else.

Havana's once elegant seafront promenade, the Malecon, is now often dark at night because of lack of street lighting.