The phenomenon known as the tragedy of the commons occurs whenever:

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The tragedy of the commons occurs when there is no ownership of resources, leading to exploitation and depletion due to the lack of management. This happens because individuals pursuing their own self-interest will tend to overuse the resource, since the cost of using it is spread among all users but the benefits accrue to the individual. This creates a situation where the resource is depleted more quickly than if it were managed sustainably by a single owner.

The Phenomenon Known as the Tragedy of the Commons Occurs