Which statement best illustrates the "tragedy of the commons?"
A)A factory pollutes a river as much as the law allows.
B)Some levels of pollution are life threatening.
C)Some activities harm the environment, but others do not.
D)Irrigated cropland can be ruined by salinization.
E)Cropland can decrease biodiversity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "tragedy of the commons" refers to a situation where individual users, acting independently according to their own self-interest, behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting or spoiling that resource through their collective action. Choice A, where a factory pollutes a river as much as the law allows, best illustrates this concept as it shows how individual actions, legally justified, can collectively harm a shared resource.

Which Statement Best Illustrates the "Tragedy of the Commons