What does the phrase, "tragedy of the commons" refer to?
A) refers to the tragic pollution of an area called, the commons, in England in the 1800s.
B) refers to the idea that all land in the U.S. is now privately owned.
C) refers to the idea that unrestricted access to public land will lead to resource depletion.
D) refers to the idea that people will prefer to use privately owned land rather than public land.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons refers to the idea that unrestricted access to public land will lead to resource depletion. It is a concept in environmental science and economics that describes the depletion or degradation of a shared resource due to individuals' self-interest and the absence of regulation or property rights.

What Does the Phrase, "Tragedy of the Commons" Refer To