Tragedy Of The Commons Essay

Garret Hardin developed an economics theory titled “The Tragedy of the Commons.” The word commons in the title refers to any resource used by individuals to fulfill their demand it includes; the atmosphere, oceans, rivers, and any other shared resource. Hardin suggests that individuals act rationally and independently to serve their own self interest. However, within a group context their behavior is altered, and they objectify to work in the groups best interest; that is possible through depletion of a common resource.
In the article, the author has focused upon population growth, natural resources, and the welfare state. He suggests that if an individual were self-reliant, then the number of children within a family would not be a matter of concern for the public. The number of children who would have survived would be lower because of the insufficient resources to provide for their needs. Hardin has blamed the welfare state; that provides for the children’s care and support. Consequently, the welfare state has led to the tragedy of the commons.
Hardin has suggested a social remedy that would prevent and rectify conditions of the commons degradation. This social remedy he called “Mutual coercion mutually agreed upon.” This concept suggests that members in a society collectively agree that certain types of behaviors are unacceptable in society, and failure to conform to norms would lead to penalties and imprisonment. These restrictions should be placed on the commons, as well. This means that certain restrictions must be placed on the air we breathe; releasing pollutants beyond a certain level would lead to fines imposed on those institutions. Hardin suggests this is just one example and if similar actions are taken for other natural resources then we can preserve our natural environment