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Tragedy of the anticommons

Tragedy of the anticommons is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Tragedy of the anticommons rather than just read about it. In short: The tragedy of the anticommons is a type of coordination breakdown, in which a commons does not emerge, even when general access to resources or infrastructure would be a social good. It is a mirror-image of the older concept of tragedy of the commons, in which numerous rights holders' combined use exceeds the capacity of a resource and depletes or destroys it.

Tragedy of the anticommons — main illustration
Tragedy of the anticommons — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Tragedy of the anticommons belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Tragedy of the anticommons to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Tragedy of the anticommons from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The tragedy of the anticommons is a type of coordination breakdown, in which a commons does not emerge, even when general access to resources or infrastructure would be a social good. It is a mirror-image of the older concept of tragedy of the commons, in which numerous rights holders' combined use exceeds the capacity of a resource and depletes or destroys it. The "tragedy of the anticommons" covers a range of coordination failures, including patent thickets and submarine patents. Overcoming these breakdowns can be difficult, but there are assorted means, including eminent domain, laches, patent pools, or other licensing organizations. The two 'tragedies' may be compared as follows:

The 'tragedy of the commons' occurs when a resource has many users, none of whom own it, and thus none of whom have the ability to exclude others from using it, leading to the over-utilization of that resource. The 'tragedy of the anticommons' occurs when a resource has many owners, all of whom have the ability to exclude others from using it, leading to the under-utilization of that resource. The term originally appeared in Michael Heller's 1998 article of the same name and is the thesis of his 2008 book. The model was formalized by James M. Buchanan and Yong Yoon. In a 1998 Science article, Heller and Rebecca S. Eisenberg, while not disputing the role of patents in general in motivating invention and disclosure, argue that biomedical research was one of several key areas where competing patent rights could actually prevent useful and affordable products from reaching the marketplace.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Tragedy of the anticommons: Scientists are often reluctant to share their data.[1]
Scientists are often reluctant to share their data.[1]

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Tragedy of the anticommons

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Tragedy of the anticommons claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Tragedy of the anticommons before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Tragedy of the anticommons ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Tragedy of the anticommons

In research
Tragedy of the anticommons appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Tragedy of the anticommons in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Tragedy of the anticommons is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Game theory, Market failure, Property, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Tragedy of the anticommons outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Tragedy of the anticommons in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Tragedy of the anticommons means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Tragedy of the anticommons out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tragedy of the anticommons in simple terms?

The tragedy of the anticommons is a type of coordination breakdown, in which a commons does not emerge, even when general access to resources or infrastructure would be a social good. It is a mirror-image of the older concept of tragedy of the commons, in which numerous rights holders' combined use…

Why does Tragedy of the anticommons matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Tragedy of the anticommons?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Tragedy of the anticommons.

Tags

  • Game theory
  • Market failure
  • Property
  • Public commons

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