Some have argued that open-access fisheries will always be subject to

Question

Some have argued that open-access fisheries will always be subject to more exploitation than are private fisheries. The reasoning is that each fisherman will be more likely to over fish open-access fisheries because he alone reaps the benefits, while the costs of mitigating measures to prevent the collapse of over-exploited fisheries is borne by all. Despite this, one study of 250 common-access fisheries and 103 private fisheries showed that the open-access fisheries were less exploited than the private ones.

Which of the following, if true and known by the fishermen, is the best explanation tor the results of the study?

(A) There are more common-access fisheries than there are Private ones.

(B) It is more difficult to measure the cost of over fishing that is attributable to any particular fisherman in common-access fisheries than in private ones.

(C) If one fisherman were to over fish a common-access fishery even slightly, the other fishermen are more likely to do so even more, with the result that the ultimate costs to each fisherman outweigh the benefits.

(D) Both the costs and benefits of over fishing fall to the individual user in private fisheries.

(E) An individual fisherman would obtain a competitive advantage if he or she were able to catch more fish than other fishermen by over fishing common-access fisheries.

snoep · Answer

even when there are additional advantages from fishing over common access fisheries , they are not used as much as private fisheries.

(A) There are more common-access fisheries than there are Private ones. - as given in the premise, there are more common access fisheries but doesn't help explain why are not being used as much

(B) It is more difficult to measure the cost of over fishing that is attributable to any particular fisherman in common-access fisheries than in private ones. - great advantage to who want to use common access fisheries, but why are they still not using it as much

(C) If one fisherman were to over fish a common-access fishery even slightly, the other fishermen are more likely to do so even more, with the result that the ultimate costs to each fisherman outweigh the benefits.
this one says , if one does it , others do it, then additionally others do it , resulting in less benefits because of over use and additional cost. good reason for not using common access fisheries. keep the answer.

(D) Both the costs and benefits of over fishing fall to the individual user in private fisheries.
more about private fisheries, but does not help explain the fact about common access fisheries

(E) An individual fisherman would obtain a competitive advantage if he or she were able to catch more fish than other fishermen by over fishing common-access fisheries.
there is an advantage of catching more fish and benefits, even more curious now why don't they use common access area..

C, it is

nav1995 · Answer

GMATNinja , please help with the reasoning.

bestreturn · Answer

We need to explain why there are less exploitation or over fishing in common-access compared to private when common-access environment should encourage the fishermen to exploit more

(A) There are more common-access fisheries than there are Private ones.
= Number of fishery places doesn't explain anything

(B) It is more difficult to measure the cost of over fishing that is attributable to any particular fisherman in common-access fisheries than in private ones.
= Okay so it is more difficult to measure cost in common-access but that doesn't clearly explain the exploitation difference.

(C) If one fisherman were to over fish a common-access fishery even slightly, the other fishermen are more likely to do so even more, with the result that the ultimate costs to each fisherman outweigh the benefits.
= This choice says that fishermen in common-access knows that over exploitation would lead to more cost to themselves, so with this mindset they would likely refrain from doing so. This choice help explain the best

(D) Both the costs and benefits of over fishing fall to the individual user in private fisheries.
= Doesn't really help explain the difference in exploitation in common-access

(E) An individual fisherman would obtain a competitive advantage if he or she were able to catch more fish than other fishermen by over fishing common-access fisheries.
= If this is true then common-access should exploit more but this is not the case

Some have argued that open-access fisheries will always be subject to

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Some have argued that open-access fisheries will always be subject to

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