The Timber Game

Authors

  • Eduardo de Luna-Solis
  • Devin McCullough
  • Dallas Brozik Marshall University

Abstract

The Timber Game is a simulation for teaching sustainability concepts in the context of the Tragedy of the Commons. It pre-sents players with what appears to be a competitive situation but which in reality is a “prisoner’s dilemma”. Players who analyze the situation in advance and recognize the conditions that characterize the tragedy of the commons, common owner-ship of depletable resources, will adjust their game activities to sustainable levels and maximize their long-run performance. Players who fail to recognize the problem will act competitive-ly, undermining the industry and all other players, resulting in depressed long-run industry and organizational performance.

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