Shared public spaces or resources; the House of Commons in parliamentary systems; dining halls in colleges; areas available to all community members.
From Old French 'commun,' from Latin 'communis' meaning 'shared by all, public.' Originally referred to land that was collectively owned and used by a community.
The 'tragedy of the commons' in economics refers to the medieval practice of shared grazing land, where individual benefit conflicted with collective good. This ancient concept helps explain modern problems from climate change to internet bandwidth.
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