Brian, Edison, and Kevin are loggers who live next to a forest that is open to logging; in other words, anyone is free to use the forest for logging. Assume that these men are the only three loggers who log in this forest and that the forest is large enough for all three loggers to log intensively at the same time. Each year, the loggers choose independently how many acres of trees to cut down; specifically, they choose whether to log intensively (that is, to clear-cut a section of the forest, which hurts the sustainability of the forest if enough people do it) or to log nonintensively (which does not hurt the sustainability of the forest). None of them has the ability to control how much the others log, and each logger cares only about his own profitability and not about the state of the forest. Assume that as long as no more than one logger logs intensively, there are enough trees to regrow the forest. However, if two or more log intensively, the forest will become useless in the future. Of course, logging intensively earns a logger more money and greater profit because he can sell more trees. The forest is an example of    because the trees in the forest are    and    .     Depending on whether Edison and Kevin both choose to log either nonintensively or intensively, fill in Brian's profit-maximizing response in the following table, given Edison and Kevin's actions.    Edison and Kevin's Actions Log Nonintensively Log Intensively Brian's Profit-Maximizing Response             Which of the following solutions could ensure that the forest is sustainable in the long run, assuming that the regulation is enforceable? Check all that apply. Outlaw intensive logging.   Develop a program that entices more loggers to move to the area.   Convert the forest to private property, and allow the owner to sell logging rights.

Principles of Microeconomics
7th Edition
ISBN:9781305156050
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter11: Public Goods And Common Resources
Section: Chapter Questions
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6. Common resources and the tragedy of the commons

Brian, Edison, and Kevin are loggers who live next to a forest that is open to logging; in other words, anyone is free to use the forest for logging. Assume that these men are the only three loggers who log in this forest and that the forest is large enough for all three loggers to log intensively at the same time.
Each year, the loggers choose independently how many acres of trees to cut down; specifically, they choose whether to log intensively (that is, to clear-cut a section of the forest, which hurts the sustainability of the forest if enough people do it) or to log nonintensively (which does not hurt the sustainability of the forest). None of them has the ability to control how much the others log, and each logger cares only about his own profitability and not about the state of the forest.
Assume that as long as no more than one logger logs intensively, there are enough trees to regrow the forest. However, if two or more log intensively, the forest will become useless in the future. Of course, logging intensively earns a logger more money and greater profit because he can sell more trees.
The forest is an example of    because the trees in the forest are    and    .
 
 
Depending on whether Edison and Kevin both choose to log either nonintensively or intensively, fill in Brian's profit-maximizing response in the following table, given Edison and Kevin's actions.
 
 Edison and Kevin's Actions
Log Nonintensively
Log Intensively
Brian's Profit-Maximizing Response          
 
Which of the following solutions could ensure that the forest is sustainable in the long run, assuming that the regulation is enforceable? Check all that apply.
Outlaw intensive logging.
 
Develop a program that entices more loggers to move to the area.
 
Convert the forest to private property, and allow the owner to sell logging rights.
 
 
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