The "commons problem" posited that groups of people find it difficult to self-organize to pursue a collective good because it is in each individual's self-interest to free-ride, which results in the undersupply of public goods.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "commons problem," also known as the tragedy of the commons, describes a situation where individual users acting independently according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting or spoiling that resource through their collective action. This concept is often used to illustrate the difficulty in managing public goods and resources, as individuals may benefit from free-riding, or relying on others to contribute to the collective good while they abstain, leading to an undersupply of the public good.

The "Commons Problem" Posited That Groups of People Find It