Competition

a type of activity existing among two or more elements of a system when each is striving to maximize its use of a finite and/or non-renewable resource. Agricultural land is an example of a finite, renewable resource. Mineral deposits are examples of finite, non-renewable resources. Competition for finite resources tends to accelerate rates of depletion or leads to overuse (see the tragedy of the commons). Overuse of finite, renewable resources can be corrected by altering the rewards and costs of marginal changes in use.