Algebraic Optimization: Tragedy or Treat? Halloween and the Trick-or-Treating Commons

Franklin Mixon and Cody B. Ward

Journal for Economic Educators, 2018, vol. 18, issue 1, 28-32

Abstract: The “tragedy of the commons” is typically a central topic in high school and college-level economics courses. This note provides a vignette for economics instructors that relates to the tragedy of the commons that, owing to the universality of the experience, may appeal to a wider audience than the traditional examples appearing in many textbooks. The vignette relates to the ages-old Halloween activity of trick-or-treating, particularly when some neighborhood residents choose to avoid the hassle of the activity by providing a “common-pool” candy bowl whose contents are distributed to trick-or-treating kids on an honor system.

Keywords: tragedy of the commons; common pool resources; economic education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A20 A21 A22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mts:jrnlee:v:18:y:2018:i:1:p:28-32

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