medium · SAT Reading & Writing

The "tragedy of the commons" describes a situation in which individual users, acting in their own self-interest, deplete a shared resource even when doing so is plainly against the group's long-term interest. While this model is commonly invoked to argue for the necessity of private property or government regulation, Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom found that many communities have successfully managed shared resources through informal norms and local cooperation, without external interference. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

1. To present evidence that challenges a widely used model of resource management.
2. To argue that government regulation is the only way to prevent the depletion of resources.
3. To provide a detailed list of resources that are currently being depleted by individual users.
4. To explain why shared resources are depleted when individuals act in their own self-interest.

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