The Commons: Its Tragedies and Other FolliesByTibor R. Machan
Publisher:Hoover Institution Press2001 |126 Pages | ISBN: 0817999221 | PDF | 7 MB



This work, which takes Garrett Hardin's essay "The Tragedy of theCommons" (Science, 1968) as its reference point, examines aspects ofthe public realm—whether much or little of it ought to be part of afree society; what problems a too abundant commons poses to governance;what alternatives can be implemented where the commons have posedserious obstacles to efficiency and justice—by looking at thefollowing:
What is the tragedy of the commons?
Why is there a tragedy here?
What is affected by the tragedy?
Is there a way out of this tragedy?
What is the proper scope of the public realm?
These and related matters are the topics contributors to this volumeexamine. The main insight shared is that human individuality, as acentral element of human nature, needs to be properly accommodated in asystem of community life, in law, and in public policy. Moreover,placing what arguably belongs within the realm of nonpoliticalgovernance under the rubric of public management poses serious publicpolicy problems.