Question

Discuss the idea of the commons and describe the tragedy of the commons. At what point do you think more areas should be designated as commons land? Isn’t the earth itself a common area that we all share?

Answer 1

The tragedy of the commons is an economic problem in which every individual tries to reap the greatest benefit from a given resource. As the demand for the resource overwhelms the supply, every individual who consumes an additional unit directly harms others who can no longer enjoy the benefits. Generally, the resource of interest is easily available to all individuals; the tragedy of the commons occurs when individuals neglect the well-being of society in the pursuit of personal gain.