the tragedy of the commons: why everything's going to hell in a handbasket 💩
a critical examination of our shared mess and how it's reshaping our world
tl;dr: the tragedy of the commons explains why we can't have nice things, from public spaces to climate change. it's not just about cows eating grass anymore, folks!
hola mis amores,
for as long as i have studied politics and history, i’ve remained constantly fascinated by humanity's greatest superpower: our uncanny ability to royally screw things up for everyone else.
from the dude who microwaves fish in the office to the corporations belching out greenhouse gases like it's a competitive sport, we've mastered the art of collective self-sabotage. welcome to the tragedy of the commons, mi gente – the reason why we can't have nice things.
picture the last time you stepped into a public bathroom and immediately wished you hadn't. that pungent cocktail of neglect and "not my problem" attitude? that's the tragedy of the commons in its most visceral, nose-hair-curling form. it's the same force that turns pristine beaches into ashtray-sand hybrids. it’s the same shit that makes sharing a fridge with coworkers feel like a post-apocalyptic scavenging mission.
but this isn't just about messy spaces or stolen lunches. it goes way deeper. it's the invisible hand that's giving mother nature the middle finger, turning our oceans into plastic soup, and cranking up the planet's thermostat.
the tragedy of the commons is the ultimate "i got mine, screw you" mentality, playing out on scales both mundane and monumental. it's the toddler-level logic that if everyone's responsible, somehow no one is. spoiler alert: that's not how it works, karen.
this is how we get ants!
the tragedy of the commons is an economic theory that explains why shared resources often get depleted or degraded. it's the idea that when we have something that belongs to everyone, people tend to act selfishly and use it up without considering the long-term consequences or the needs of others.
this concept has been around since the 1800s, originally used to describe how farmers would overgraze their cattle on shared land. in 1968, ecologist garrett hardin popularized the term in a famous paper, expanding its application to broader environmental and social issues.
in 2024, it's about so much more than cows eating too much grass. it explains why your roommate never buys toilet paper, why the office fridge is a biohazard, and why we're cooking the planet faster than my abuela's arroz con gandules. it's the reason behind overfishing in our oceans, deforestation of our rainforests, and why public spaces often end up trashed.
this is not just about selfish behavior – it's about the systems and incentives that encourage that behavior. recognizing the tragedy of the commons is the first step in figuring out how to overcome it and create more sustainable, cooperative ways of managing our shared resources.
also, i should note - while this theory offers valuable insights, it's not without its critics. some argue that it oversimplifies human behavior and ignores successful examples of communal resource management. as we explore modern examples, let's keep this debate in mind.
from microwaved fish to melting ice caps: modern examples
the office kitchen catastrophe: why does the office fridge resemble a science experiment gone wrong? because everyone thinks, "eh, someone else will clean it." spoiler alert: that someone is never you, dan. but is this inevitable, or can workplace culture shift this dynamic?
public bathrooms (enter at your own risk): these apocalyptic spaces exist because no one feels responsible for their upkeep. yet, in japan, many public restrooms are immaculate. what can we learn from cultures that successfully maintain shared spaces?
climate change (the mother of all tragedies): this is the tragedy of the commons on a global scale. according to nasa, global temperatures have increased by at least 1.1°C (1.9°F) since 1880, largely due to human activities. and the majority of it? occurring since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15 to 0.20°C per decade. yet, many still think, "my actions won't make a difference."
dr. elinor ostrom, nobel prize-winning economist, argues that local communities can effectively manage shared resources without top-down regulation. her work shows that the tragedy of the commons isn't inevitable – but it requires collective action and communication.
social media cesspools: online comment sections often resemble the wild west of human decency. a 2020 pew research study found that 41% of americans have experienced online harassment. we've turned a shared space for dialogue into a dumpster fire of trolling and misinformation.
platforms like nextdoor have found some success in fostering more positive interactions by emphasizing local community connections. what if we applied similar principles to larger social media platforms?
gentrification (or as i like to call it, the great whitewashing heist): longtime residents invest in their communities for years, then bam! according to a 2019 study by the national community reinvestment coalition, washington d.c. experienced the most intense gentrification between 2000 and 2013. suddenly, your favorite bodega is a craft kombucha bar, and you can't afford to live in your own neighborhood.
yet, some cities are finding ways to balance development with community preservation. for example, portland, oregon has implemented policies to protect long-term residents from displacement. can we replicate these successes elsewhere?
the "i got mine, so f*ck you" mentality
now, let's talk about the attitude that's corroding social fabric faster than my tía's chisme spreads: the "i got mine, so f*ck you" mentality. it's more pervasive than bad coffee in tourist traps, but is it really human nature, or a product of our current systems?
you see it everywhere:
boomers who benefited from affordable education and housing, now voting against those same benefits for younger generations. baby boomers hold 53% of the wealth despite being only 21% of the population as of 2022.
wealthy neighborhoods opposing affordable housing because "it'll ruin the character of the area." according to a 2023 report by the national low income housing coalition, there is a significant shortage of affordable rental homes for low-income households in the united states. In all 50 of the largest metropolitan areas, more than 60% of renters with extremely low incomes face severe housing cost burdens, spending over half their income on housing.
people who oppose public healthcare until they're drowning in medical debt. a 2024 kaiser family foundation analysis found that 20 million people (nearly 1 in 12 adults) owe significant medical debt, with the total amount owed estimated to be at least $220 billion.
but here's a twist: research by behavioral economists like dan ariely suggests that people are more likely to act cooperatively when they feel a sense of shared identity or purpose. how can we tap into this to address our commons problems?
how this sh*t shows up in relationships
oh, you thought you were safe in your personal life? think again. the tragedy of the commons slithers its way into our most intimate connections:
emotional labor imbalance: in many relationships, one person becomes the default therapist/planner/rememberer of important dates. recent research indicates that women tend to carry a disproportionate share of the cognitive labor, often referred to as the 'mental load,' in heterosexual relationships. A 2024 study published in archives of women's mental health found that the division of cognitive labor was particularly gendered, with women's share of cognitive labor being more disproportionate than physical household labor. additionally, a 2023 systematic literature review published in frontiers in psychology showed that women perform the larger proportion of mental labor, especially when it comes to childcare and parenting decisions.
personal anecdote time: in almost every relationship i’ve ever had, i found myself constantly planning dates, remembering birthdays, and managing our social calendar. it was exhausting, and it ultimately contributed to the eventual breakup. but it taught me the importance of clear communication and equitable distribution of emotional labor in relationships.
the infamous "man cave": nothing says "i'm checking out of our shared living space" quite like declaring a whole room off-limits. it's like creating a mini-commons where the rules don't apply. but what if we reframed personal spaces as a shared resource that both partners have a right to?
friend group dynamics: there's always that one friend who never initiates plans but always shows up. they're freeloading on the shared resource of friendship maintenance. but is this always malicious, or could it be a result of different social energies and capacities?
breaking the cycle: from tragedy to comedy
so, are we all doomed? well, not necessarily. at least i don’t want to indulge in overly negative thinking.
but addressing these issues requires collective action and a shift in mindset. here's how we can start:
start small: clean up after yourself in shared spaces. yes, even if no one will know it was you. be the change you want to see in the world, or at least in your kitchen.
call out the bs: when you see someone being a tragedy of the commons personified, say something. kindly, of course. we're trying to fix the commons, not start a war.
support protective policies: vote for politicians who prioritize the environment, public spaces, and equitable resource distribution. research shows that policies like carbon pricing can effectively reduce emissions.
practice empathy: try to see beyond your immediate needs. it's hard when you're hangry and the last cookie is calling your name, but your future self (and your roommates) will thank you.
educate others: share this article! start conversations about shared responsibility. be that annoying friend who always brings up sustainability at parties. someone's gotta do it.
get involved locally: join community organizations working on shared resource issues. whether it's a neighborhood clean-up or advocating for affordable housing, local action makes a difference.
support sustainable businesses: put your money where your mouth is. choose companies that prioritize sustainability and ethical practices.
foster community connections: organize block parties, community gardens, or local skill-sharing events. building stronger communities can lead to better management of shared resources.
case study: the success of the acequias
let's look at a real-world example of successful commons management. the acequias, community-operated watercourses used in spain and in former spanish colonies, have sustainably managed water resources for centuries.
in new mexico, acequia associations have maintained these irrigation systems for over 400 years. they operate on principles of shared responsibility, democratic decision-making, and equitable resource distribution. this system has allowed communities to thrive in arid regions where water is scarce.
the success of the acequias challenges the inevitability of the 'tragedy of the commons'. it shows that with the right cultural practices and governance structures, communities can sustainably manage shared resources over long periods.
acequias may even help to counteract the negative effects of a changing climate on regional hydrology. by continuing to irrigate using traditional methods, water recharges the groundwater supply for use later in the year. that, in turn, supports biodiversity in local ecosystems and ameliorates the effects of climate change by prolonging stream flow.
the last word (for now)
the tragedy of the commons is a powerful lens for understanding many of our current challenges, from our kitchens to our climate. but it's not the whole story. humans are capable of both destructive selfishness and remarkable cooperation.
as we navigate these issues, let's remember that we're all in this together. on this tiny blue marble hurtling through space, we've got one commons, and it's up to all of us to take care of it.
deja el mundo mejor de como lo encontraste. (leave the world better than you found it).
i generally use that when talking about the bathroom, but i think it applies here too.
what's your experience with the tragedy of the commons? how have you seen it play out in your life? have you witnessed successful examples of community resource management? share your thoughts in the comments!
hasta la próxima, mis amores. keep fighting the good fight, and maybe, just maybe, we can turn this tragedy into a comedy. or at least a decent sitcom with better writers than we currently have.
con mucho amor y un poco de esperanza,
edgard 🌈✊🏽💖
p.s. if you found this deep dive into our collective mess enlightening (or at least entertaining), consider subscribing. i promise to keep bringing you thought-provoking content that'll make you laugh, cry, and maybe even inspire you to leave the world a little better than you found it.
further reading:
Phenomenal writing. Not just the stylistics but your argument, too, and the ease and dexterity with which you educate your reader. Thank you, Edgard.
i was going to foward this to my exes but i owe them an apology as well for the cognitive labor they invested, this has to be taught at the level of the invidual to cause change i imagine, and in company policies and values