Why is the "Tragedy of the Commons" far too Common?

There was an economic-ecologic concept posed back in the 1960's -- the "Tragedy of the Commons" -- that for a while provided the context and the framing -- that made it seem the worst of our environmental problems, could be adequately managed, and in some cases even solved. The basic idea goes like this:     Free Public Resources tend to be over-used, because there is "little private/personal incentive" not to.

Here is a youtube that explains the TOTC idea, from the National Science Foundation:

Tragedy of the Commons Part 1 - Chalk Talk

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Here is a picture that captures "Tragedy of the Commons" — one which is becoming all-too common in so many Public Parks these days:

Trail-blazers need not apply … There will be Fines, if you go outside of the lines.

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Here's is an analysis of Garrett Hardin's novel idea, which attempted to capture the constant struggle between the forces of the Public good vs Private gain ...

[Ecologist Garrett] Hardin’s parable involves a pasture "open to all." He asks us to imagine the grazing of animals on a common ground. Individuals are motivated to add to their flocks to increase personal wealth. Yet, every animal added to the total degrades the commons a small amount. Although the degradation for each additional animal is small relative to the gain in wealth for the owner, if all owners follow this pattern the commons will ultimately be destroyed. And, assuming rational actors, each owner ads to their flock: Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit -- in a world that is limited. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. (Hardin, 1968)

Despite its initial reception as revolutionary, Hardin’s tragedy was not, in fact, a new discovery: its intellectual roots trace back to Aristotle who noted that "what is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it" [...] Hardin's useful insight was to recognize that this concept applies in its broader sense to a great many modern environmental problems (e.g., overgrazing on federal lands, acid precipitation, ocean dumping, atmospheric carbon dioxide discharges, draw down of fossil aquifers, firewood crises in less developed countries, over-fishing, over-population). Simply stated, this is a serious social dilemma -- an instance where individual rational behavior (i.e., acting to maximize personal short-term gain) can cause long-range harm to the environment, others and ultimately oneself.

by Raymond De Young, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan

Investopedia gives a stark utilitarian definition of the "Tragedy Of The Commons", getting at some of its roots and its consequences ...

The tragedy of the commons occurs when individuals neglect the well-being of society (or the group) in the pursuit of personal gain. For example, if neighboring farmers increase the number of their own sheep living on a common block of land, eventually the land will become depleted and not be able to support the sheep, which is detrimental to all.

These tragic effects of over-use and over-harvest, have even caused a "micro-scale" extinction -- all because a band of people had nothing to tell them:  when to stop cutting down ALL their trees ...

Around 1400 the Easter Island palm became extinct due to overharvesting. [...]

With the loss of their forest, the quality of life for Islanders plummeted. Streams and drinking water supplies dried up. Crop yields declined as wind, rain, and sunlight eroded topsoils. Fires became a luxury since no wood could be found on the island, and grasses had to be used for fuel. No longer could rope by manufactured to move the stone statues and they were abandoned. The Easter Islanders began to starve, lacking their access to porpoise meat and having depleted the island of birds. As life worsened, the orderly society disappeared and chaos and disarray prevailed. Survivors formed bands and bitter fighting erupted. By the arrival of Europeans in 1722, there was almost no sign of the great civilization that once ruled the island other than the legacy of the strange statues. However, soon these too fell victim to the bands who desecrated the statues of rivals.

— Consequences of Deforestation on Easter Island

Of course their stone-work stands as a monument, that they once were, indeed here ...