Before a good can have value, what must it be available for?

For a good to have value, it fundamentally needs to be available for private ownership. This concept is rooted in the basic principles of economics and property rights. When a good can be owned privately, it allows individuals or entities to exert control over that good, leading to the potential for exchange, utilization, and investment.

Private ownership encourages individuals to invest in, maintain, and improve the good, which can enhance its perceived value. Additionally, ownership allows for the possibility of transactions—individuals are more likely to assign value to goods they can buy, sell, or trade according to their personal interests and needs.

In contrast, while public access might allow greater numbers of people to utilize a good, it does not inherently provide the motivation to improve or expend resources on that good, which can diminish its overall value. Similar reasoning applies to commercial use and government control; these situations can impact the availability and attractiveness of goods, but without the foundational element of private ownership, the intrinsic value of a good is less likely to be realized.