Final answer:
The difficulty in getting people to follow regulations protecting commons stems from collective action problems, opportunities for free riding, compromised enforcement through political processes, opposition due to immediate economic costs, and human nature's preference for short-term gains.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding why it is difficult for people to follow regulations protecting commons is a multifaceted issue. One primary reason is the collective action problem, which reflects the challenges in coordinating group efforts towards a common goal. People often have divergent interests, and the benefits of adhering to regulations may not be immediately apparent to them, leading to preference for short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
Another aspect is the concept of free riding, where individuals or entities benefit from the common good without contributing to its preservation. This leads to the other challenge: imposing and enforcing effective regulations. Regulations are often subject to political compromise, which can result in loopholes and exceptions that undermine their effectiveness.
Moreover, there is an inherent tension between the economic impacts of environmental regulations and their environmental benefits. Regulations that aim to protect the commons may lead to immediate localized costs such as unemployment and are often opposed for being 'job-killing', despite the broader community benefits of environmental quality.
Last, human nature itself is a barrier, as people generally find it difficult to make sacrifices for long-term benefits, especially in the face of uncertainty. The tragedy of the commons illustrates this well: when individual users act independently according to their self-interest, they behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting the resource through their collective action.