Tragedy of the Commons

Tragedy of the Commons is a situation where individuals, acting in their own self-interest, overuse and deplete a shared resource, harming the group as a whole.

How to Use

  • Recognize shared resources and potential for overuse
  • Implement rules or incentives to manage resources sustainably
  • Useful in environmental science, economics, and public policy

Application

  • Explains overfishing, pollution, and resource depletion