Open access resources
Published: September 20, 2006, 3:32 pm
Updated: September 20, 2006, 3:32 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
S. Niggol Seo PhD
Open-access resources are those that can be accessed by anyone at any time without restraint. When the resource is abundant relative to the demand for it, an open-access regime may not only be unproblematic, it may actually be the best management regime since it involves so little oversight.
However when the resource is scarce, open-access resources may be subject to excessive use. Since the user's claim over the resource is only established by "the rule of capture", users have an incentive to harvest as much as they can as rapidly as they can. Instead of more conservative behavior preserving the resource in this circumstance, it could simply lead to resource degradation as other users simply increase their share.
Open-access resources should be distinguished from common-property resources. Common-property resources may allow many users to share the resource, but they may also do so in a way that restricts access (either formally or informally) to levels that are sustainable.
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Citation
Tom Tietenberg (Lead Author);S. Niggol Seo PhD (Topic Editor) "Open access resources". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth September 20, 2006; Last revised Date September 20, 2006; Retrieved May 23, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Open_access_resources>
The Author
Tom Tietenberg is the author or editor of eleven books (including Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, one of the best selling textbooks in the field, and Emissions Trading, one of the most widely cited books in the tradable permits literature) as well as over one hundred articles and essays on environmental and natural resource economics. Elected President of the Association of Environmental and Natural Resource Economists (AERE) in 1987-8 and designated an AERE Fellow in 2006, he has ... (Full Bio)
Open-access resources are those that can be accessed by anyone at any time without restraint. When the resource is abundant relative to the demand for it, an open-access regime may not only be unproblematic, it may actually be the best management regime since it involves so little oversight.
However when the resource is scarce, open-access resources may be subject to excessive use. Since the user's claim over the resource is only established by "the rule of capture", users have an incentive to harvest as much as they can as rapidly as they can. Instead of more conservative behavior preserving the resource in this circumstance, it could simply lead to resource degradation as other users simply increase their share.
Open-access resources should be distinguished from common-property resources. Common-property resources may allow many users to share the resource, but they may also do so in a way that restricts access (either formally or informally) to levels that are sustainable.
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Remove This Article
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