commons dilemma

The commons dilemma describes a situation where individuals, sharing a common resource—like a pasture, air, or water—face a conflict between personal gain and collective well-being. Each person might overuse or exploit the resource to maximize their own benefit, but if everyone does so, the resource becomes depleted or damaged, harming everyone in the long run. It highlights the challenge of balancing individual interests with the sustainability of shared resources, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and responsible management to prevent depletion and ensure ongoing availability for all.