The Tragedy of the Commons: twenty-two years later

• Published in: Human ecology Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Feeny, D. (McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), Berkes, F, McCay, B.J, Acheson, J.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1990
• Subjects: ADMINISTRACION DE RECURSOS; BOSQUES; common property resources; Conservation of Natural Resources; DERECHO DE USO; DROIT D'USAGE; Environment; Environmental Pollution; Evaluation Studies as Topic; FAUNE ET FLORE SAUVAGES; FISHERIES; FORESTS; FORET; GESTION DES RESSOURCES; LITERATURE REVIEWS; PARCOURS; PECHES; PESCA; Population Density; PRIVATE OWNERSHIP; PROPIEDAD PRIVADA; PROPIEDAD PUBLICA; PROPRIETE PRIVEE; PROPRIETE PUBLIQUE; PUBLIC OWNERSHIP; RANGELANDS; RECURSOS HIDRICOS; REGLAMENTACIONES; REGLEMENTATION; REGULATIONS; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT; RESOURCE UTILIZATION; RESSOURCE EN EAU; RIGHT OF ACCESS; SUSTAINABILITY; TIERRAS DE PASTOS; VIDA SILVESTRE; WATER RESOURCES; WILDLIFE; Critique; Environmental Pollution; Overpopulation; Environment; World; Natural Resources; Carrying Capacity; Environmental Degradation
• ISSN: 0300-7839; 0046-8169; 1572-9915
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00889070

The authors take up the hypothesis originally proposed by Garrett Hardin that resources held in common, such as oceans, rivers, air, and parklands, are bound to be subject to massive degradation. Specifically, they "examine the accumulated evidence pertaining to common-property resource management and provide a critique of the conventional theory expounded by Hardin." They conclude that recent evidence suggests that users of such resources are able to restrict access to them and establish rules among themselves for their sustainable use.