Translating Hardin‘s his metaphor into a theory requires four assumptions:

(1) no governance system is present (no GS) related to the resource system;

(2) the mobile individual resource units (RU1; the animals grazing on the pasture) are the private property of each pastoralist

(4) a sufficient number of users (large U1), given the size of the pasture, are using the pasture to adversely affect its long-term productivity;

(5) the resource users make decisions totally independently, (no communication) without any local leadership or shared norms (no U5 or U6).

Hardin then posits that individuals will pursue short-term, material benefits for themselves and ignore immediate consequences for others and long-term results for all. These assumptions about second-tier variables lead to a prediction of severe over-harvesting.

Hardin’s prediction is consistent with contemporary game theoretical predictions for same combination of variables.