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Are you sure? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons seems to disagree with you and talks in terms of depeleting a resource.



It can refer to both over consumption and under investment.


Not according to the article I linked, which even has a four-paragraph section called "metaphoric meaning" that does not extend to that meaning; nor do any of the examples in the long list of examples under the section "modern commons" show such a meaning.

The term "tragedy of the commons" simply refers to a different concept. It's just not what it means. It means common resources become less useful over time.

This is not a statement about investment; it's just that the effect that is described is quite specific. You don't have to use an incorrect term to describe what you're talking about.




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