Title: Collective Action Problems | GEOG 30N: Environment and Society in a Changing World
Headings: Collective Action Problems
Collective Action Problems
Collective Action Problems
Environmental Collective Action Problems

Content: Individuals often want to drive cars so as to get around faster, but driving causes more air pollution that harms the whole group. Additionally, driving can cause traffic jams, whereas public transit avoids traffic jams. The car/transit decision is often a collective action problem for travel time: each individual travels faster by driving regardless of what other individuals do, but the group will overall travel faster if everyone takes transit than if everyone drives. Individuals may want to harvest scarce natural resources that are up for grabs, but society overall may be better off if everyone avoids using too much of these resources. This last example is closely related to the "tragedy of the commons". This concept has an important connection to sustainability and is worth considering in greater detail. ‹ Individual vs. Collective Action up The Tragedy of the Commons ›