Hardin's essay

Hardin’s essay, "The Tragedy of the Commons," explains how individual actions can harm shared resources. When people use a common resource—like a public pasture or the atmosphere—for personal gain, they tend to overuse it because each benefits individually, while the negative effects are shared collectively. This often leads to resource depletion or environmental degradation, harming everyone in the long run. Hardin emphasizes that without regulation or shared responsibility, common resources are likely to be exploited and ultimately destroyed, highlighting the need for collective management to ensure their sustainability.