What social dilemma requires individuals to determine how much they contribute to a shared resource?

The Public Goods Dilemma accurately captures the situation in which individuals must decide how much to contribute to a shared resource, with the understanding that their contributions benefit the whole group. In this dilemma, there is often a tension between personal interests and collective welfare.

When individuals contribute to a public good, they help provide benefits (like clean air, national defense, or public parks) that are available to all, even to those who don't contribute. This setting can lead to a challenge known as "free-riding," where individuals may choose not to contribute in hopes of benefiting from others' contributions. The dilemma lies in the balance between individual benefit and the greater communal benefit, especially when individuals must consider their own motivations and the potential exploitation of the public resource by others.

The other options represent different concepts. The Commons Dilemma specifically addresses situations where individuals overuse a common resource leading to depletion, while a Social Trap refers to situations in which short-term individual gains can lead to long-term negative consequences for everyone. The Prisoner's Dilemma involves cooperation and betrayal between two parties rather than a collective resource situation.

Thus, the Public Goods Dilemma effectively exemplifies the challenge of managing contributions to a shared resource within a social context.