Commons – Governance

Discussion

Summary by Sam Rose:

Groups that are able to organize and govern their behavior successfully are marked by the some basic design principles:

• Group boundaries are clearly defined. • Rules governing the use of collective goods are well matched to local needs and conditions. • Most individuals affected by these rules can participate in modifying the rules. • The rights of community members to devise their own rules is respected by external authorities. • A system for monitoring member’s behavior exists; the community members themselves undertake this monitoring. • A graduated system of sanctions is used. • Community members have access to low-cost conflict resolution mechanisms. • For Common Pool Resources that are parts of larger systems: appropriation, provision, monitoring, enforcement, conflict resolution, and governance activities are organized in multiple layers of nested enterprises. (http://www.communitywiki.org/en/CommunityWikiResourcePool#GoverningTheCommons)

Ostrom on the 9 principles of governance

Summary from Eleanor Ostrom in her book Governing the Commons at http://www.cooperationcommons.com/Documents/EntryView?id=30

1. Group boundaries are clearly defined.

2. Rules governing the use of collective goods are well matched to local needs and conditions.

3. Most individuals affected by these rules can participate in modifying the rules.

4. The rights of community members to devise their own rules is respected by external authorities.

5. A system for monitoring member's behavior exists; the community members themselves undertake this monitoring.

6. A graduated system of sanctions is used.

7. Community members have access to low-cost conflict resolution mechanisms.

8. For CPRs that are parts of larger systems: appropriation, provision, monitoring, enforcement, conflict resolution, and governance activities are organized in multiple layers of nested enterprises. (http://www.cooperationcommons.com/Documents/EntryView?id=30)

In chapter 4 of the book "Inequality, Cooperation and Environmental Sustainability" edited by Baland, Bardhan & Bowles, Princeton University Press, 2007., co-authored with Marco Janssen, entitled, "Adoption of a new regulation for the governance of common-pool resources by a heterogeneous population," she adds a 9th principle to the top of her list of, "crucial foundations for self-governed resource use."

She writes:

9. Accurate information about the condition of the resource and the expected flow of benefits and costs are available at low cost to the participants leading to a common understanding of likely consequences of continuing the status quo as contrasted with feasible changes in rules."

More Information

1. Our general article about the Commons
2. Governing The Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action Ostrom, Elinor http://cooperationcommons.com/node/361
3. Hess, Charlotte http://research.iftf.net/aboutnewcommons