The Variety of Property Systems and Rights in Natural Resources

39 Pages Posted: 10 Aug 2010 Last revised: 22 Jul 2011

See all articles by Daniel H. Cole

Daniel H. Cole

Indiana University Maurer School of Law; Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Elinor Ostrom

Indiana University, Bloomington - Department of Political Science

Abstract

Property theory has not kept pace with the growth of empirical and historical information on property systems. This paper, prepared for a Lincoln Institute conference on "The Evolution of Property Systems and Rights Related to Land and Natural Resources": (a) introduces conventional theories of property rights in natural resources (based largely on Hardin 1968 and Demsetz 1967); (b) addresses issues in the construction and meaning of property rights and systems; (c) describes the findings of social scientists from decades of field and experimental research about the structure and performance of existing property systems; and (d) calls on property scholars to move beyond "naive" and simplistic theories of property rights in light of the wealth of empirical evidence demonstrating the variety of successful property regimes in use.

Keywords: Property, Rights, Governance, Natural Resources, Conservation, Sustainability

JEL Classification: D23, H41, H82, K11, N5, 013, Q2

Suggested Citation

Cole, Daniel H. and Ostrom, Elinor, The Variety of Property Systems and Rights in Natural Resources. Indiana University-Bloomington School of Public & Environmental Affairs Research Paper No. 2010-08-01, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1656418 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1656418

Daniel H. Cole (Contact Author)

Indiana University Maurer School of Law ( email )

211 S. Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States

Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs ( email )

1315 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States

Elinor Ostrom

Indiana University, Bloomington - Department of Political Science ( email )

Bloomington, IN
United States

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