Elinor Ostrom

Definition

Elinor Ostrom was a political economist best known for her work on the governance of common-pool resources. Her groundbreaking research demonstrated that local communities can successfully manage shared resources without the need for top-down regulation or privatization, challenging the conventional wisdom that only government or market solutions could prevent resource depletion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Elinor Ostrom was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2009, becoming the first woman to receive this honor for her work on economic governance.
2. Her seminal book, 'Governing the Commons', outlines case studies demonstrating successful community management of resources, countering the idea of the 'tragedy of the commons'.
3. Ostrom identified key design principles for effective resource governance, including clearly defined boundaries, collective-choice arrangements, and mechanisms for monitoring and sanctioning.
4. Her work emphasized the importance of local knowledge and social norms in managing common resources sustainably and highlighted the potential for decentralized governance.
5. Ostrom's research has influenced various fields beyond economics, including environmental policy, political science, and resource management.

Review Questions

• How did Elinor Ostrom's research challenge traditional views on the management of common-pool resources?
  • Ostrom's research revealed that local communities could effectively manage common-pool resources without relying solely on government intervention or privatization. By analyzing various case studies, she demonstrated that communities often develop their own rules and institutions that suit their specific contexts, successfully preventing overexploitation. This finding countered the traditional narrative known as the 'tragedy of the commons', highlighting the capacity for self-organization in resource management.
• Discuss the design principles identified by Ostrom for successful governance of common-pool resources.
  • Ostrom identified several key design principles crucial for effective governance of common-pool resources. These include having clearly defined resource boundaries, ensuring collective-choice arrangements where users can participate in decision-making, establishing effective monitoring systems to track resource use, and creating graduated sanctions for those who violate rules. These principles help ensure that resources are used sustainably and that communities remain engaged in their management.
• Evaluate how Elinor Ostrom's work on polycentric governance contributes to modern environmental policy frameworks.
  • Ostrom's insights into polycentric governance provide a valuable perspective for modern environmental policy frameworks by emphasizing the importance of multiple overlapping authorities and decentralized decision-making. This approach allows different stakeholders to collaborate and address complex environmental issues at various scales, enhancing adaptability and resilience. Her findings encourage policymakers to recognize local knowledge and context-specific solutions while fostering collaboration among diverse actors, ultimately leading to more effective resource management.

Related terms

Common-Pool Resources: Resources such as fisheries, forests, and water systems that are shared by a community, which can be overused or depleted if not managed properly.

Polycentric Governance: A system of governance in which multiple, overlapping authorities manage resources at different scales, allowing for more flexible and effective decision-making.

Institutional Analysis and Development Framework: A framework developed by Ostrom to analyze how institutions and governance structures impact the management of common-pool resources and collective action.