The Commons: From tragedy to triumph

Come along to learn about our latest published topic on the commons in Regenerative Economics for secondary schools!

If students learn about the commons at all, it's usually the "tragedy of the commons" narrative, priming students to believe that human cooperation to protect shared resources isn't possible. We can do better!

A bustling neighbourhood garden, a shared library of tools, and open-source software are all examples of commons. But what exactly are the commons, and why are they so important? The commons are more than just shared resources; they are living systems where communities come together to meet their needs while nurturing relationships with one another and the environment.

In our February virtual lab, we'll explore what makes the commons such a vital part of our economies: how commons are designed, how they relate to other provisioning institutions, why care is so important to their function, the narratives that undermine them and how we can strengthen commoning for a diverse and resilient economic system. Join us on February 25 at 12pm CET!

Figure description: 
Commons consist of three elements: the resource, the community, and the rules

(Credit: Heinrich Böll Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0)