Tragedy of the anticommons facts for kids
The tragedy of the anticommons is a phrase created by Michael Heller. It describes a situation where something goes wrong because too many different people or groups have rights over a single shared item. Imagine if many people owned a tiny piece of one bicycle. It would be hard for anyone to ride it!
This idea is the opposite of the tragedy of the commons. In the tragedy of the commons, problems happen when no one owns something, or not enough people have rights. For example, if a public park has no rules, people might litter and ruin it for everyone.
The tragedy of the anticommons explains problems like:
- Patent thickets: When a new invention needs many different patents from different owners. This can make it very hard to create or sell the invention.
- Nail houses: These are buildings where the owner refuses to sell or move, even when a big project (like a new road) needs the land.
- Red tape: Too many rules and permissions from different groups can stop good projects from happening.
Finding solutions for the tragedy of the anticommons can be tricky. Some ways to fix it include:
- Eminent domain: When the government can buy private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell.
- Laches: A legal idea where someone can lose their rights if they wait too long to use them.
- Patent pools: Groups of companies agree to share their patents so they can all use them.
Contents
Understanding Property Rights
When we talk about the tragedy of the anticommons, it helps to understand how different types of ownership can lead to different results.
How Ownership Affects Outcomes
The way things are owned can lead to good or bad results. Here are four main ways things can turn out:
| Type of Ownership | Bad Outcome (Tragedy) | Good Outcome (Cornucopia) |
|---|---|---|
| Property rights (many owners with rights) | Tragedy of the anticommons | Normal case (things work well) |
| Common ownership (no clear owner or shared by everyone) | Tragedy of the commons | Inverse commons (shared things work well) |
The best outcome depends on the specific situation and how people manage their rights.
Related Ideas
- Tragedy of the commons
- Market failure
- Georgism
- Network effects
- Rivalry (economics)
Images for kids
-
Scientists are often reluctant to share their data.
See also
In Spanish: Tragedia de los anticomunes para niños
