The challenge of antimicrobial resistance: What economics can contribute
Roope LSJ., Smith RD., Pouwels KB., Buchanan J., Abel L., Eibich P., Butler CC., Tan PS., Walker AS., Robotham JV., Wordsworth S.
Incentivizing restraint in drug use The accelerating tide of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major worldwide policy concern. Like climate change, the incentives for individual decision-makers do not take into account the costs to society at large. AMR represents an impending “tragedy of the commons,” and there is an immediate need for collective action to prevent future harm. Roope et al. review the issues associated with AMR from an economics perspective and draw parallels with climate change. A major stumbling block for both challenges is to build consensus about the best way forward when faced with many uncertainties and inequities. Science , this issue p. eaau4679