Tragedy of the commons, but the humans are the cattle.
For each employer, it’s most profitable to work your slaves to the bone, even if it’s better for every employer to collectively treat their employees well
The only difference as compared with the old, outspoken slavery is this, that the worker of today seems to be free because he is not sold once for all, but piecemeal by the day, the week, the year, and because no one owner sells him to another, but he is forced to sell himself in this way instead, being the slave of no particular person, but of the whole property-holding class.
Friedrich Engels, The Condition of the Working Class in England (1845)
Tragedy of the commons, but the humans are the cattle.
For each employer, it’s most profitable to work your slaves to the bone, even if it’s better for every employer to collectively treat their employees well
This is good because tragedy of the commons only applies to capitalists. Historically, normal people were capable of using the commons responsibly.
Friedrich Engels, The Condition of the Working Class in England (1845)