What is referred to as the tragedy of the commons?

The tragedy of the commons refers to a situation where a shared resource is over-exploited by individuals acting in their self-interest, leading to its depletion and degradation. This concept illustrates how individuals, when given access to a common resource—such as fisheries, forests, or grazing land—tend to exploit it for personal gain. Without effective management or regulation, this can result in overcrowding, overfishing, or depletion of resources, ultimately harming the collective good.

The core issue lies in the tension between individual benefit and collective sustainability. Each individual may reason that if they do not take full advantage of the resource, someone else will, leading to a situation where the resource is used unsustainably. Therefore, while the choice to exploit may seem rational on an individual level, it can lead to overall negative consequences for the entire community.

This framework highlights the need for policies or agreements that can manage shared resources effectively, balancing individual usage rights with the overall health of the resource.