AP Microeconomics

Answer - B - Because there is no incentive to protect public areas, each user tends to act in their own self-interest. This is called the tragedy of the commons.

Key Takeaway: The tragedy of the commons arises from a situation in which multiple individuals who are sharing a resource will ultimately deplete that resource in the pursuit of their own self-interest. The dilemma was first discussed by economist Garrett Hardin in the late 1960s and is typically used in discussions of environmental protection and global warming.