The Tragedy of the Commons

What is the tragedy of the commons?

• The tragedy of the commons involves a conflict between individual interests and the common good.

Garrett Hardin

• In is essay published in 1968, Hardin stated problems cannot be solved by solely technical means.

• There must be a change in human values.

Garrett’s Example

• There is a pasture shared by ranchers.

• The ranchers want to increase the value of their herd, so they will increase the size of their herd.

Example continued.

• If each rancher increases his herd size, and the value of the herd increases, the pasture quality degrades.

• Ultimately, the pasture is rendered unusable from overuse and the herd dies.

The Major Theme

• The major theme of Garrett’s paper was the exponential growth of the human population.

• To Garrett, Earth’s natural resources was a “commons”.

Examples of “commons”

• Air• Water• The quad• A bathroom• A parking lot.

Analysis

• What happened to the resource in round one through four?

• Explain the rationale for your fishing technique.• If you had cooperated with the other fisherpeople

would the results be different?• Why does common usage lead to exploitation?• What would be the ideal way to manage the

commons pond?• What are the strategies that help to prevent “the

tragedy of the commons?”