An interesting discussion of the commons dilemma by a fellow nerd, Applied Economist Justin Andrew Johnson. As a brilliant programmer-turned-economist, his website is totally superior (module integration?), better organized (multi-user controls?) and so much prettier (agent-oriented design?).
He applies the infamous tragedy of the commons to his support for the graduate student union (GSUW/UAW). It's very well articulated and part of a two-part series on the graduate student union, following a first post, ironically called "The worst place we should have a union."
Interestingly, the union failed to pass during a vote last week. But that doesn't keep us from discussing it. Note that JAJ's argument in favor of supporting the institutions that uphold successful commons (ones that don't end in tragedy, that is) would require that you agree that there exist market failures and commons tragedies in the areas that the UAW supports (namely health care, environmental degradation and income inequality). In this case, supporting the UAW will uphold the institutions to mitigate the failures and result in a non-tragedy solution.
JAJ is also writing about the economics of climate change and has helped us all out by providing a very brief required reading list on the subject. It looks a bit like what I imagine is the bibliography for his oral defense.
By the way, the reason potluck dinners work in Minnesota is because the Minnesota-nice is a subtle institutional social norm that drives out free-riding at a friendly dinner.
He applies the infamous tragedy of the commons to his support for the graduate student union (GSUW/UAW). It's very well articulated and part of a two-part series on the graduate student union, following a first post, ironically called "The worst place we should have a union."
Interestingly, the union failed to pass during a vote last week. But that doesn't keep us from discussing it. Note that JAJ's argument in favor of supporting the institutions that uphold successful commons (ones that don't end in tragedy, that is) would require that you agree that there exist market failures and commons tragedies in the areas that the UAW supports (namely health care, environmental degradation and income inequality). In this case, supporting the UAW will uphold the institutions to mitigate the failures and result in a non-tragedy solution.
JAJ is also writing about the economics of climate change and has helped us all out by providing a very brief required reading list on the subject. It looks a bit like what I imagine is the bibliography for his oral defense.
By the way, the reason potluck dinners work in Minnesota is because the Minnesota-nice is a subtle institutional social norm that drives out free-riding at a friendly dinner.
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