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  • 2018
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

The Digital Commons: Tragedy or Opportunity? A Reflection on the 50th Anniversary of Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons

By: Frank Nagle
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:13
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Abstract

On the 50th anniversary of Garrett Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons,” this article considers the benefits and potential downsides of the digital commons, which emerged well after Hardin wrote his seminal article. Unlike the physical world Hardin wrote about, the digital world is essentially infinitely abundant, which leads to a very different tragedy and many new opportunities.

Keywords

Digital Commons; Economics; Society; Transformation; Opportunities

Citation

Nagle, Frank. "The Digital Commons: Tragedy or Opportunity? A Reflection on the 50th Anniversary of Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 19-060, December 2018.
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About The Author

Frank Nagle

Strategy
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