Being common is tragic, but the tragedy of the commons is still true • The Register

"Something popped up in the comments from BobRocket a couple of weeks back, namely that the Tragedy of the Commons is a myth spread by the landgrabbers, and Elinor Ostrom proved this was wrong. Well, no, not really; not at all in fact. What Ostrom did show was hugely more interesting than simply disproving Garret Hardin's assertions. So, perhaps it's time to trot through what they were variously saying. Hardin's original essay is here. He wasn't saying anything particularly new, much of the basic idea can be found in Malthus for example. However, what he did do is revitalise the concepts, and provide the modern vocabulary for their discussion. He also made a significant mistake in the subject he tried to apply the insights to, something we'll come to. The essential structure is that when there's some resource which is accessible on Marxian terms (that is, open access to all who want access) then if the demand for that resource exceeds either the supply of it, or its regenerative capacity, then that resource will be exhausted ..."