The Tragedy of the Commons

Flashback to 1983, and I'm in a lecture room in Huddersfield listening to Alan Pitkethly: a charismatic lecturer who spoke without notes, and told us a story of salmon fishing, changing river conditions and the use of resources.

He introduces us all to an idea called the Tragedy of the Commons, developed by Garrett Hardin, an ecologist. It struck a chord with me, and I enjoyed teaching it when it was part of the old Cambridge board 'A' level back in the day too. Thanks to Ben King for this link here... connected to a Ted Talk.

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