Commons Crisis
Can you manage a shared resource without destroying it?
The Tragedy of the Commons
When many people share a limited resource, each person has an incentive to take as much as possible — even though everyone would be better off if they showed restraint. This dilemma, described by Garrett Hardin in 1968, explains overfishing, deforestation, pollution, and climate change. Economist Elinor Ostrom won the Nobel Prize for showing that communities can solve this — with the right institutions.
You share a fishery with 4 others
1,000 fish. 12 rounds. The fishery regenerates 10% each round — but only if there are fish left.
Priya
Sustainability-FirstExtracts conservatively, always below sustainable yield
Raj
OpportunistGrabs 70-90% of what he can. Short-term thinker
Ananya
Institution BuilderModerate extraction (40-50%), advocates for rules
Karthik
Norm FollowerWatches others, then matches the group average
Community Discussion