Dr Eric Crampton: The case for user charges on NZ’s favourite conservation destinations

In 1968, ecologist Garrett Hardin argued that the “Tragedy of the Commons” is commonplace. If you wanted to deliberately engineer a commons problem, the management of the Conservation Estate would make for a pretty decent guidebook.

Imagine a large pasture where anyone can graze their animals, without restriction or exclusions: the commons.

That pasture will be over-grazed, if there is no way of restricting access.