An example of a resource that people have access to but do not overuse would be public parks. Public parks are put into place for people to enjoy, play, be outside in fresh air, exercise, walk their dogs etc. The play ground equipment, picnic tables, public pools, public baseball, soccer and football fields are there for people enjoy and use at their leisure. Public parks, along with the features found within them could be considered resources that are used by people who enjoy being outside, wanting to exercise etc. These resources could be used or borrowed numerous times by numerous people and would never be overused. Since the resources are being used, returned to the way they were found and reused again there is no tragedy taking place.
I agree with your post, in that public parks, much like other public sectors are one of the few designated areas of living space that do not conform to the Tragedy of Commons. However large in resources, there might be those who argue that public installations, ceremonies or events could also be distracting and loud to people who just might be enjoying a "walk in the park." Herein lays the problem: self guided use can cause obstructions to others.
ReplyDeleteHowever good example!
The problem with public parks as an example immune to the tragedy of the commons is that there are a lot of behind the scene inputs to maintain them. There are custodial people picking up trash, emptying garbage bins, mowing the grass, fixing benches, replacing swings, etc. Without that constant input from the cities the parks would fall into disarray and collapse, as would any loved to death space that isn't well cared for.
ReplyDeletePublic parks are a great example of property utilized many times by all of us, but that has not been overused. With a small amount of maintenance, we can all use a park infinitely many times. One could say that there would be overuse of a park if it is holding an amount of people greater than it's capacity at one time, but there is a cultural trend of a preference of going to a park when it is less busy so that we do not encounter this scenario.
ReplyDeleteGood point! I never thought of public parks as common even though it is such an obvious one! Most people are very cognizant of they impact this space and make sure to clean up after themselves and take care of this public resource. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI think you have some great points in your post. I agree that many people do use the public parks. My daughter is a little older now, but I can recall picking up condom wrappers, garbage, beer bottles and randoms things that should not be in the playground sand! I argue that not everyone leaves that park in the same condition they found it, maybe some better and some worse.
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