A tragedy of the commons occurs when a resource is
A)rival and excludable.
B)rival and nonexcludable.
C)nonrival and nonexcludable.
D)nonrival and excludable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A tragedy of the commons occurs when a resource is rival (meaning consumption by one individual decreases the amount available for others) and nonexcludable (meaning it is difficult to prevent others from using it). The tragedy arises because no individual has an incentive to conserve or use the resource responsibly, and without intervention, the resource may become depleted or destroyed.

A Tragedy of the Commons Occurs When a Resource Is