Which term describes an intangible output that people expect to pay for?

• A. Service
• B. Idea
• C. Good
• D. Commodity

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a service is an intangible output that people pay for. A service is the performance, work, or expertise provided to someone in exchange for money, not a physical object you can touch. Think of getting a haircut, a medical checkup, or legal advice—the value comes from the action and know-how, not from a tangible item.

A good, by contrast, is something you can touch and own, like a book or a car. A commodity is a type of good that tends to be interchangeable with other similar goods. An idea is a concept or thought; while ideas can be valuable and licensed, the typical market category for what people pay for in everyday economic terms is a service—the intangible output produced by someone’s labor or skill.