The Commons (Ostrom's work)

Elinor Ostrom’s concept of "The Commons" refers to shared resources—like lakes, forests, or fisheries—that communities manage collectively. Instead of governments or private owners controlling them, local groups develop rules and practices to sustainably use and preserve these resources. Her work shows that communities can effectively govern shared resources through cooperation, monitoring, and mutual norms, avoiding overuse or depletion. Ostrom’s insights challenge the idea that only privatization or top-down regulation can prevent resource collapse, highlighting the importance of local knowledge and collective decision-making in sustainable management.