Strategic planning and environmental assessments of activities in headwater areas

A common analytical framework is necessary for comparative study. Here we introduce the concept of “social dilemma” as our analytical tool. Social dilemma is defined as involving a conflict between “individual rationality” and “group rationality.” We see such dilemma in a situation where the following conditions are met. 1) A number of individuals share a common interest, 2) However, each individual does not have an incentive to contribute the benefit by themselves (Olson 1965, Dawes 1975).