Abstract for: A study of the use of common resources by means of agent-based simulation, tragedy of commons and social identity models

This study developed an agent-based simulation model that sought to organize the discussions on the tragedy of the common people, the logic of collective action and the institutions developed by social groups. The main focus is on the small groups which supposedly do not need to accept external actions for the promotion of their coordination to achieve common objectives, in the case of this model: the preservation and perpetuation of the scarce natural resources of common use. For this purpose the model denominated Sugarscape, proposed by Epstein & Axtell (1996), was used as a reference. Complementarily, Akerlof & Kraton’s (2000) social identity model was used in the attempt to support the rules of individual behavior. The results of the simulations promoted revealed that the extreme exhaustion of the environment and the consequent extinction of the group which depends on it are easily observed in various circumstances, though in the small groups self-coordination, by means of the development of strong and active institutions, can avoid the tragic consequence of total degradation. Complementarily, it was verified that identity influences individual behavior, thus determining the emergent social structures.