| In economics, there is a term of "the tragedy of the commons." Public ponds or seas are typically overfished, and public meadows are devastated. It fits your description as well, I believe. The reason is what is always assumed as people's self-interest that inevitably leads people to underperform and consume more. Sometimes, a bad result is foreseen, but nobody can save the situation. That's why property rights is so important. |
The Scar in People's Heart