Economics
Elinor Ostrom: Governing the Commons: 3 key ideas
The core ideas of Elinor Ostrom: Governing the Commons, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
Buy the book on AmazonWe may earn a small commission, at no cost to you.
- IDEA 1 OF 3
Commons need not be tragic
Ostrom found communities worldwide that manage forests, fisheries and water sustainably without privatisation or state control.
- IDEA 2 OF 3
Design principles
Successful commons have clear boundaries, local rules, monitoring, graded sanctions and ways to resolve conflict.
These apply to panchayats and cooperatives.
- IDEA 3 OF 3
Polycentric governance
Many overlapping centres of decision-making can work better than a single authority.
Local knowledge matters.
Get one idea like this every daySwipe through ideas, go deeper on any of them, and save the ones that matter. Free.
Read Elinor Ostrom: Governing the Commons in the app