A characteristic of public goods is that: their benefits cannot be withheld from anyone, regardless of whether the person pays for them. their benefits cannot be withheld from anyone, regardless of whether the person pays for them. they are produced only by the public sector, not by the private sector. they are produced only by the public sector, not by the private sector. people pay for them in proportion to the benefits received. people pay for them in proportion to the benefits received. the costs of producing them are less than if they were private goods.