The Tragedy of the Commons

Global Natural Resource and Environmental Issues

• What are some current environmental or natural resource issues?

• Have these issues always existed? What factors contribute to this problem?

• How might economic competition and resource scarcity contribute to these issues?

Introduction to the Tragedy of the Commons

• Chalk Talk: Tragedy of the Commons, Part 1, NSF– (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZDjPnzoge0)

• Chalk Talk: Tragedy of the Commons, Part 2, NSF– (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVwk6VIxBXg)

Tragedy of the Commons Discussion

– What is a commons?– What is the primary problem that creates the

Tragedy of the Commons?– How does the fishing game represent a tragedy of

the commons?– Which scenario in particular led to a tragedy?