tragedy of the anticommons

The tragedy of the anticommons occurs when multiple owners hold rights to a resource, making it difficult to use or develop that resource effectively. Imagine a scenario where several people own parts of a property, and each person must agree to any action taken. This can lead to paralysis, where no one can make decisions, causing potential value to be lost. Unlike the tragedy of the commons, where overuse depletes a shared resource, the anticommons problem results from over-fragmentation of ownership, preventing collective action and innovation. This concept highlights inefficiencies in property rights and resource management.