What term describes difficulty in achieving positive outcomes that would benefit the common good?

The term that describes the difficulty in achieving positive outcomes that would benefit the common good is the collective goods problem. This concept is central to international relations and political theory, referring to situations where individuals or entities face challenges in collaborating to secure benefits that are available to all, but are difficult to achieve collectively.

In the context of the collective goods problem, individuals may hesitate to contribute to a shared resource or initiative because they can benefit from it without incurring costs, leading to underinvestment in public goods. This situation exemplifies the tension between individual rationality and collective welfare, making it challenging for groups, states, or communities to work together toward shared objectives.

For example, in climate change negotiations, countries might struggle to agree on emission reductions that benefit the global community, as each country may prioritize its immediate national interests over long-term global benefits. This collective action dilemma illustrates why cooperation on issues vital to the common good can be so difficult to achieve.

Other concepts mentioned, such as the security dilemma and the prisoner's dilemma, relate to specific scenarios of interaction and conflict between states or individuals but do not directly encapsulate the broader issue of hindering collective benefits like the collective goods problem does.