====Tragedy of the Commons====
The assumption that a shared resource will be tragically exploited for individual gain, despite any evidence to the contrary.

<blockquote>
Since its publication in Science in December 1968, "The Tragedy of the Commons" has been anthologized in at least 111 books, making it one of the most-reprinted articles ever to appear in any scientific journal.  It is also one of the most-quoted: a recent Google search found "about 302,000" results for the phrase "tragedy of the commons." -- Ian Angus
</blockquote>


==== The Myth... ====

<blockquote>
Hardin assumed that human nature is selfish and unchanging and that society is just an assemblage of self-interested individuals who don't care about the impact of their actions on the community.  The same idea, explicitly or implicitly, is a fundamental component of mainstream (i.e., pro-capitalist) economic theory. -- Ian Angus
</blockquote>

see also
  * [[:design_principles_for_common_pool_resources]] 
  * http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/angus250808.html