The Myth of the Tragedy of the Commons
Ian Angus,
Monthly Review,
Sept 18, 2008
You have no doubt heard of the 'tragedy of the commons', the idea that resources held in common will inevitable be abused by those who share them. While this story has been useful politically, justifying the 'enclosure' of the commons and transfer of it to private ownership, it is based less in fact than in propaganda. "Given the subsequent influence of Hardin's essay, it's shocking to realize that he provided no evidence at all to support his sweeping conclusions. He claimed that the 'tragedy' was inevitable -- but he didn't show that it had happened even once. Hardin simply ignored what actually happens in a real commons: self-regulation by the communities involved."
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