Question

The "tragedy of the commons" is _____ (A) that cost-benefit analysis involves value judgments that we do not share in common.(B) that individual pursuit of self-interest can sometimes make everyone worse off.(C) the lack of a commons-a common place where people can come together.(D) the failure to appreciate what we have in common with other species.

Answer 1

Answer: The "tragedy of the commons" shows (B) that individual pursuit of self-interest can sometimes make everyone worse off.

Explanation: The "tragedy of the commons" is a concept that first appeared in an essay written by William Forster Lloyd, a British author who lived during the nineteenth century and focused mainly on the world of economics. In that way, the "tragedy of commons" refers to how a person who only pursuits his/her own interests can go against the common good and end up depleting everyone's resources. This theory is often used to show that an individual who only cares about his/her own interests is one of the main causes of global warming and pollution.