this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2026
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Doesn't the tragedy of the commons also apply to the free market? (hexbear.net)
submitted 1 week ago by Awoo@hexbear.net to c/chat@hexbear.net
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Ignore whether or not we actually agree with the tragedy of the commons for a moment.

If free land anyone is allowed to use is inevitably going to result in individuals acting in their own self interest depleting the resources of the fields and ultimately bringing about collective ruin.... Does that not apply to like... All of capitalism? On the planet?

The capitalists are incentivised to act in their individual interests, and they will do so to the ultimate collective ruin of the entire planet.

That is the tragedy of the commons expanded to an international scale, and if one believes in the tragedy of the commons then one must also believe in the other.

The commons must be centrally controlled and managed in the collective interest.

The market must be centrally controlled and managed in the collective interest.

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[–] insurgentrat@hexbear.net 11 points 6 days ago

Actually even when you can't punish people directly there have been examples of some being managed collectively over long times.

Elenore Ostrom studied some, one example is

CW: Killing, mutilation, carnismPeople fishing lobsters and clipping their tails to indicate they are carrying eggs or otherwise designated to maintain the population. I can't remember the precise details.