Define: Tragedy Of The Commons

Tragedy Of The Commons
Tragedy Of The Commons
Quick Summary of Tragedy Of The Commons

The tragedy of the commons is a concept in economics and environmental science that describes the depletion or degradation of shared resources when individuals act in their self-interest rather than the common good. The term originates from the idea of a “commons,” which refers to resources such as grazing land, fisheries, or clean air that are accessible to everyone in a community. When individuals exploit these resources without regard for sustainability, they can become overused, depleted, or polluted, leading to negative consequences for all users. The tragedy of the commons highlights the challenge of managing collective resources effectively and underscores the importance of cooperation, regulation, and sustainable practices to address environmental and social issues.

Full Definition Of Tragedy Of The Commons

The tragedy of the commons was the title of a book and theory developed by Garrett Hardin in 1968. It draws on the ideas expressed first by Aristotle, and further elaborated on by mathematician William Foster Lloyd in 1833. It has had a big impact on many social sciences, particularly economics.

Common Goods Are Non-Excludable

Public property includes both common goods and public goods.

A common good is not excludable. Public land in many countries is called commons for precisely this reason. It is too extensive to be fenced or made excludable in another way. Similarly, river water can be considered common goods that are non-excludable.

A public good is also non-excludable, but the usage of other citizens will not have an impact on each individuals usage. For example, street lights may be considered a public good, since my ‘use’ of the lighting does not affect yours.

Common Goods Are Subtractable Or Rivalrous

A common good, however, is subtractable or rivalrous in a way that is more similar to private property. If I cut down a tree in the forest or commons we both use, then you can’t use that tree.

A common good, therefore, is too extensive to be made private but is also a finite resource that depletes with use.

Many commodities fall under the umbrella of common goods.

The Tragedy Of The Commons

As populations grow and as their needs increase, they tend to over-use commons, leading to tragedy.

In primitive societies, land gets over-grazed, trees get chopped down till the hills are bare and wells are drained until they run dry.

In the modern world, our use of fossil fuels may lead to both their depletion and to extensive pollution of the climate through greenhouse gases.

The Tragedy Of The Unmanaged Commons

The theory failed to take note of the many effective systems that have developed over time to help manage commons, from irrigation systems in the Philippines to Swiss Alpine grazing pastures and Japanese forests.

In some of these scenarios, commons that are managed by communities who share their resources are more efficient than those managed by a more remote central government.

Hardin later commented that he should have named his book ‘The Tragedy of the Unmanaged Commons’.

Managing Commons On A Global Scale

With signs that peak oil may have been reached, meaning that oil supplies will diminish every year from here on in, and with signs that climate change is quickening thanks to the effects of greenhouse gases, we face a need to manage commons on a global scale. This includes managing both the natural environment and our need for ever greater energy supplies.

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This glossary post was last updated: 28th March, 2024.

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