The Paradox of the Commons

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1991

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Abstract

"Within agencies which manage forest, fisheries and other natural resources, the notion that overexploitation, a behaviour known as 'the tragedy of the commons', can be averted by privatization is conventional wisdom. Proof of this wisdom is nowhere more apparent than in design and implementation of individual transferable quotas, ITQ's, in fisheries of Canada and other nations. "To falsify the hypothesis, that 'privatization prevents overexploitation', evidence is drawn from the practice of agriculture in Canada and eastern Caribbean. Further examination of this evidence leads to the paradoxical conclusion that 'the tragedy of the commons' can only be controlled by returning privately owned property rights to a collective management regime or commons."

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common pool resources--theory, tragedy of the commons--case studies, co-management, ITQs, IASC

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