<p>After changing some keywords in searching engines, I find the terminology I look for: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Broken windows theory</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-17T05:43:25.267Z
2021-05-17T05:43:25.267Z
Maul Seil
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tragedy of the commons</a> is an economic theory (specifically <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory" rel="nofollow noreferrer">game theory</a>) that considers both <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cico.12360" rel="nofollow noreferrer">littering</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-011-9141-3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">crime</a>.</p>
<p>See:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Pires, S.F., Moreto, W.D. Preventing Wildlife Crimes: Solutions That Can Overcome the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’. Eur J Crim Policy Res 17, 101–123 (2011). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-011-9141-3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-011-9141-3</a></p>
</li>
<li><p>Cataldi, J. (2019), The Commons: Separating Tragedy and Triumph at a City Park. City &amp; Community, 18: 88-108. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cico.12360" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1111/cico.12360</a></p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-17T03:26:44.970Z
thx for the information. I have looked through the literature but the tendency that littering more often in a dirtier place is a bit diffferent from the idea behind 'tragedy of commons', which mainly discusses littering in shared fields.
Maul Seil
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-17T08:07:26.190Z
I -1'd your answer despite its referencing, because it doesn't expand on the contents of the papers. Link-only answers are discouraged as it leaves the answer open for interpretation. As of now it's more of a comment than an answer. Thanks for your active participation on the site though. No bad intentions on this side.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-16T16:32:44.343Z
2021-05-16T16:32:44.343Z
Tony Mobbs
<p>I'm now doing some city management related research and wondering about the idea of high crime areas. Well, the above phrase is a bit extreme. Say, littering, will this kind of behavior occur more often in areas that is already dirty and has tons of rubbish which should not be there? I believe so, however I searched things like littering, wrong parking and etc. on the internet but mostly news or policy. I'm looking for a scientific theory behind the phenomena and thinking of environmental criminology which I konw nothing about.</p>
<p>Any help will be appreciated. New to this site, if anything inapproporiate or unclear, please let me know.</p>

<behavior><criminology>
littering more often in dirty places?
Maul Seil
# littering more often in dirty places?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-16)

I'm now doing some city management related research and wondering about the idea of high crime areas. Well, the above phrase is a bit extreme. Say, littering, will this kind of behavior occur more often in areas that is already dirty and has tons of rubbish which should not be there? I believe so, however I searched things like littering, wrong parking and etc. on the internet but mostly news or policy. I'm looking for a scientific theory behind the phenomena and thinking of environmental criminology which I konw nothing about.

Any help will be appreciated. New to this site, if anything inapproporiate or unclear, please let me know.

**Tags:** behavior, criminology


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2021-05-17. Score: 2

After changing some keywords in searching engines, I find the terminology I look for: [Broken windows theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory)


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### Answer by username_1 on 2021-05-16. Score: 1

[Tragedy of the commons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons) is an economic theory (specifically [game theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory)) that considers both [littering](https://doi.org/10.1111/cico.12360) and [crime](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-011-9141-3).

See:

* Pires, S.F., Moreto, W.D. Preventing Wildlife Crimes: Solutions That Can Overcome the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’. Eur J Crim Policy Res 17, 101–123 (2011). <https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-011-9141-3>
* Cataldi, J. (2019), The Commons: Separating Tragedy and Triumph at a City Park. City & Community, 18: 88-108. <https://doi.org/10.1111/cico.12360>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: thx for the information. I have looked through the literature but the tendency that littering more often in a dirtier place is a bit diffferent from the idea behind 'tragedy of commons', which mainly discusses littering in shared fields.  
> **username_2**: I -1'd your answer despite its referencing, because it doesn't expand on the contents of the papers. Link-only answers are discouraged as it leaves the answer open for interpretation. As of now it's more of a comment than an answer. Thanks for your active participation on the site though. No bad intentions on this side.  

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