Question

Hardin gives two scenarios with regard to the "invisible hand" and population. What are they? (Hint: is the assumption correct or not?

Answer 1

In Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons, he states that if everybody acts on his or her self-interest there might be a collapse in population. As an example, if some people add more cattle into a public space to increase their gains, the soil would not be good for the cattles anymore. Or if some people, who earn more than others, have more children it would also bring the state of collapse.

Hardin refutes the "invisible hand" that states that people are free to increase their gains in an individual way so it can bring more profits to society. Because if they are also free to breed more, there wouldn't be any benefits to others. So what Hardin proposes is that people should be coerced if they have more children and that they should be more controled by the state.

Nowadays it is known better opinions about this matter and what Hardin suggested is overpast.