Managing Common-Pool Resources: A Book Review
Dr. Erik Nordman’s book, “The Uncommon Knowledge of Elinor Ostrom – Essential Lessons for Collective Action” summarizes Ostrom’s work on governing common resources through interesting case studies and surprising future applications. Elinor Ostrom was ahead of her time in her brilliance and academic achievements. Even though most graduate programs excluded women at that time, she went on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2009. She brought ideas that economists had not considered in their typical view of the need to manage resources through privatization or government regulations. Dr. Nordman presents Ostrom’s case studies of lobster gangs in Maine, the water court in Valencia, Spain, and even cyber security as examples of how Ostrom’s ideas reframed how resources can be managed and how communities can find ways to collectively, without government regulations or privatization, achieve their goals.
During our recent interview, Dr. Nordman and I discussed the similarities of the work that LGROW focuses on and Ostrom’s concept of commons, or common-pool resources, defined as “goods that can be depleted if overused, but are also difficult to exclude people from using”. Dr. Nordman and I discussed examples of commons and how they have been successfully, or unsuccessfully, managed over the years.
Watershed management does not typically rely on regulations to improve water resources. Local champions emerge who understand the importance and the need for protection of those resources. Ostrom’s message of shared collective action, people coming together to sustainably manage our common resources, seems to be a critical ingredient for successful management and a healthy watershed. As LGROW moves forward in developing the Lower Grand River Watershed Resilience Plan, we will be using Ostrom’s principles to layout how this work can be accomplished through collective action in any community and at any scale. For example, a polycentric approach of having "many centers of decision-making power” describes our effort of collecting information from individuals, community organizations, businesses, and government. Each subwatershed within the Lower Grand River Watershed has its defined boundary and its own personality, which means that no one-size solution fits all. But with these different characteristics, the effort of working together will contribute to the health of the larger watershed or system. Trust and reciprocity are essential for collective action. But the lack of trust in education, leadership, and government can make this difficult work. However, informal conversations, also known as “cheap talk” to game theorists, can help to build that trust and enhance the outcome of the game. Fostering partnerships and creating strong lines of communication are a priority for us that allows collective action to take place.
Dr. Nordman has been teaching about Ostrom’s work in his Natural Resources Management and Economics classes at Grand Valley State University. Ostrom’s most referenced book, Governing the Commons, goes in depth into the concept of managing common-pool resources and provided the inspiration for Dr. Nordman to research her work. His book will provide his students and anyone involved in managing resources an introduction to Ostrom’s pioneering concepts.