Question

Give an example of a modern day tragedy of the commons.  Should there be any government intervention in the use of common resources and what would the consequences be if there were no government intervention in these circumstances?  If government should intervene, how would you recommend that they solve the problem? Please yse at least 400 words.

Answer 1

The modern day tragedy of commons is use of unclaimed land for dumping wastes as can be observed in big cities.

Tragedy of commons is an economic term to suggest that when large number of individuals act as per their self-interest motives without any regard for others, they tend to deplete a shared resource through the collective action till the time it collapse due to overuse.

With this, the common land is destroyed and environment is made pungent with rottening wastes and this is all done by collective action. This pose a health hazard and health emergency like situation for those living in the nearby areas.

Yes, government should intervene in the use of common resources.

If there were no government intervention, the common resource would get depleted beyond recognition and restoration in future.

The government should issue advisory to the general pubic about the use of the land and disposal of wastes and classification of wastes. The government should impose charge for dumping wastes in the open site so that no un-authorized dumping takes place.

This would help proper and timely disposal of the wastes. The wastes would be classified as dry waste and wet wast. The dry waste can be segregated and processed for recycle.

The wet waste can be converted in manure for plant growth and cultivation purpose.

Other situations exemplifying the "tragedy of the commons" in the modern days also include the overfishing and destruction of the Grand Banks, the destruction of salmon runs on dammed Columbia River in the Northwest United States, and the devastation of the sturgeon fishery in North Atlantic rivers.