What is the "tragedy of the commons"?

1 Answer
Apr 8, 2016

The "tragedy of the commons" is the overuse of public resources to the point of non-sustainability.

Explanation:

At one time villages had fields called "the commons" available to anyone for whatever use they chose. Since this was effectively a "no cost" pasture resource, many people used the commons as pasture land for their livestock to the point that the field became over-grazed and unable to sustain any livestock.