Discussion: Governing the Commons

Author: Elinor Ostrom

Description: In Governing the Commons, Elinor Ostrom challenges the widely held notion that common-pool resources (CPRs)—like fisheries, forests, and irrigation systems—are doomed to be overexploited and depleted due to the "tragedy of the commons." Through extensive fieldwork and analysis, Ostrom shows that communities can successfully govern shared resources without resorting to privatization or external regulation. Drawing on examples from around the world, she identifies a set of design principles that enable local groups to manage common resources sustainably.

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