Home / Nature & Environment / Social Issues / The Ideal of Self-Governance: Public Policy Beyond Markets and States / Dilemmas of Collective Action
Dilemmas of Collective Action
What is a collective action dilemma? In this video, Professor Mark Pennington describes an important concept in economics.
how<00:00:17.840> should<00:00:18.000> we<00:00:18.160> understand<00:00:18.640> the<00:00:18.800> governance how should we understand the governance how should we understand the governance challenges challenges
challenges that<00:00:20.640> underlie<00:00:21.119> problems<00:00:21.600> such<00:00:21.920> as<00:00:22.720> urban that underlie problems such as urban that underlie problems such as urban decay decay
decay the<00:00:24.320> depletion<00:00:24.800> of<00:00:24.960> forests<00:00:25.439> and<00:00:25.599> fish<00:00:25.840> stocks the depletion of forests and fish stocks
the depletion of forests and fish stocks and<00:00:26.640> climate<00:00:27.119> change and climate change
and climate change from<00:00:28.480> an<00:00:28.560> economist<00:00:29.119> perspective<00:00:30.320> these from an economist perspective these
from an economist perspective these problems<00:00:31.039> are<00:00:31.119> rooted<00:00:31.519> in problems are rooted in
problems are rooted in collective<00:00:32.480> action<00:00:32.880> dilemmas<00:00:34.399> these<00:00:34.719> kind<00:00:34.960> of collective action dilemmas these kind of collective action dilemmas these kind of dilemmas dilemmas
dilemmas underpin<00:00:36.480> many<00:00:36.640> of<00:00:36.800> the<00:00:36.880> most<00:00:37.120> pressing underpin many of the most pressing
underpin many of the most pressing problems<00:00:38.079> facing<00:00:38.480> the<00:00:38.559> world<00:00:38.879> today problems facing the world today
problems facing the world today and<00:00:39.840> they<00:00:40.079> occur<00:00:40.320> at<00:00:40.399> many<00:00:40.719> different<00:00:41.120> levels and they occur at many different levels
and they occur at many different levels and<00:00:41.760> scales<00:00:42.239> of<00:00:42.399> society and scales of society
and scales of society from<00:00:43.680> the<00:00:43.840> very<00:00:44.160> local<00:00:44.559> level<00:00:45.280> right<00:00:45.680> up<00:00:46.000> to from the very local level right up to
from the very local level right up to the<00:00:46.399> global<00:00:46.879> level the global level
the global level in<00:00:48.399> this<00:00:48.640> session<00:00:49.520> i'm<00:00:49.680> going<00:00:49.920> to<00:00:50.160> talk in this session i’m going to talk
in this session i’m going to talk through<00:00:50.960> a<00:00:51.039> number<00:00:51.360> of<00:00:51.440> different<00:00:51.840> examples through a number of different examples
through a number of different examples of<00:00:53.039> collective<00:00:53.600> action<00:00:53.920> dilemmas<00:00:54.559> to of collective action dilemmas to
of collective action dilemmas to illustrate<00:00:55.280> their<00:00:55.520> nature illustrate their nature
illustrate their nature then<00:00:57.199> in<00:00:57.280> the<00:00:57.440> next<00:00:57.760> session<00:00:58.480> we<00:00:58.640> can<00:00:58.879> start<00:00:59.120> to then in the next session we can start to
then in the next session we can start to look<00:00:59.440> at<00:00:59.520> some<00:00:59.680> of<00:00:59.760> the<00:00:59.920> possible<00:01:00.399> solutions look at some of the possible solutions
look at some of the possible solutions to<00:01:01.359> the<00:01:01.440> collective<00:01:02.000> action<00:01:02.239> dilemmas<00:01:03.359> with<00:01:03.600> a to the collective action dilemmas with a
to the collective action dilemmas with a particular<00:01:04.320> focus particular focus
particular focus on<00:01:04.879> what<00:01:05.199> eleanor<00:01:05.680> and<00:01:05.760> vincent<00:01:06.240> ostrom<00:01:06.880> would on what eleanor and vincent ostrom would
on what eleanor and vincent ostrom would describe<00:01:07.600> as<00:01:07.840> self-governance<00:01:08.640> solutions describe as self-governance solutions
describe as self-governance solutions so<00:01:10.560> what<00:01:10.720> do<00:01:10.880> we<00:01:11.040> mean<00:01:11.280> by<00:01:11.600> collective<00:01:12.080> action so what do we mean by collective action so what do we mean by collective action dilemmas dilemmas
dilemmas collective<00:01:14.880> action<00:01:15.119> dilemmas<00:01:15.680> are collective action dilemmas are
collective action dilemmas are characterized<00:01:17.040> by<00:01:17.200> a<00:01:17.360> set<00:01:17.600> of<00:01:17.759> incentives characterized by a set of incentives
characterized by a set of incentives that<00:01:19.280> mean<00:01:19.759> whatever<00:01:20.159> an<00:01:20.320> individual<00:01:20.880> or that mean whatever an individual or
that mean whatever an individual or organization<00:01:22.000> does organization does
organization does in<00:01:22.560> relation<00:01:23.119> to<00:01:23.280> a<00:01:23.360> particular<00:01:23.920> problem in relation to a particular problem
in relation to a particular problem makes<00:01:25.360> no<00:01:25.680> difference makes no difference
makes no difference to<00:01:26.640> whether<00:01:26.960> that<00:01:27.200> problem<00:01:27.759> is<00:01:27.920> actually to whether that problem is actually to whether that problem is actually solved solved
solved let’s<00:01:30.880> start<00:01:31.280> at<00:01:31.360> the<00:01:31.520> most<00:01:32.320> local<00:01:32.720> and let’s start at the most local and
let’s start at the most local and perhaps<00:01:33.200> mundane<00:01:33.840> level perhaps mundane level
perhaps mundane level with<00:01:34.799> a<00:01:34.880> problem<00:01:35.280> such<00:01:35.520> as<00:01:36.000> public<00:01:36.400> littering with a problem such as public littering
with a problem such as public littering many<00:01:38.479> public<00:01:38.880> spaces<00:01:39.520> often<00:01:39.840> get<00:01:40.159> filled<00:01:40.400> with many public spaces often get filled with many public spaces often get filled with litter litter
litter the<00:01:41.920> litter<00:01:42.320> is<00:01:42.479> unsightly<00:01:43.439> and<00:01:43.600> it's<00:01:43.759> very the litter is unsightly and it’s very
the litter is unsightly and it’s very costly<00:01:44.399> for<00:01:44.560> the<00:01:44.640> public<00:01:44.960> authorities<00:01:45.520> to costly for the public authorities to costly for the public authorities to remove remove
remove so<00:01:47.439> why<00:01:47.680> does<00:01:47.840> the<00:01:48.000> problem<00:01:48.399> persist so why does the problem persist
so why does the problem persist arguably<00:01:51.200> it's<00:01:51.439> because<00:01:51.759> of<00:01:51.840> the<00:01:52.000> incentives arguably it’s because of the incentives
arguably it’s because of the incentives that<00:01:53.200> face<00:01:53.520> the<00:01:53.680> individuals that face the individuals
that face the individuals involved<00:01:55.520> in<00:01:55.759> generating<00:01:56.320> the<00:01:56.479> problem involved in generating the problem
involved in generating the problem from<00:01:58.719> the<00:01:58.799> point<00:01:59.040> of<00:01:59.200> view<00:01:59.680> of<00:01:59.840> someone<00:02:00.159> who from the point of view of someone who
from the point of view of someone who drops<00:02:00.799> litter drops litter
drops litter their<00:02:02.880> personal<00:02:03.360> contribution<00:02:04.000> to<00:02:04.159> the their personal contribution to the
their personal contribution to the overall<00:02:04.880> problem<00:02:05.439> of<00:02:05.600> public<00:02:06.000> littering overall problem of public littering
overall problem of public littering is<00:02:06.960> very<00:02:07.280> small<00:02:08.720> dropping<00:02:09.119> the<00:02:09.280> odd is very small dropping the odd
is very small dropping the odd plastic<00:02:10.399> bottle<00:02:11.120> or<00:02:11.360> drink<00:02:11.760> can<00:02:12.080> on<00:02:12.239> the plastic bottle or drink can on the plastic bottle or drink can on the street street
street doesn’t<00:02:13.680> make<00:02:13.920> that<00:02:14.160> much<00:02:14.480> difference<00:02:14.879> to<00:02:15.040> the doesn’t make that much difference to the
doesn’t make that much difference to the overall<00:02:15.599> amount<00:02:15.920> of<00:02:16.080> litter overall amount of litter
overall amount of litter that<00:02:17.040> is<00:02:17.200> there<00:02:18.400> at<00:02:18.560> the<00:02:18.640> same<00:02:19.040> time<00:02:19.680> it<00:02:19.920> may that is there at the same time it may
that is there at the same time it may save<00:02:20.480> the<00:02:20.640> person<00:02:21.040> in<00:02:21.120> question<00:02:21.520> the<00:02:21.680> time save the person in question the time
save the person in question the time of<00:02:22.640> finding<00:02:22.959> a<00:02:23.120> litter<00:02:23.360> bin<00:02:23.680> or<00:02:23.840> the<00:02:24.000> trouble of finding a litter bin or the trouble
of finding a litter bin or the trouble of<00:02:24.480> taking<00:02:24.800> the<00:02:24.959> litter<00:02:25.280> home of taking the litter home
of taking the litter home at<00:02:27.200> the<00:02:27.360> same<00:02:27.680> time<00:02:28.560> if<00:02:28.800> the<00:02:28.959> person<00:02:29.680> does at the same time if the person does
at the same time if the person does make<00:02:30.959> the<00:02:31.120> effort<00:02:31.599> to<00:02:31.840> find<00:02:32.160> a<00:02:32.239> bin<00:02:32.640> or<00:02:32.800> to<00:02:33.040> take make the effort to find a bin or to take
make the effort to find a bin or to take the<00:02:33.360> litter<00:02:33.760> home the litter home
the litter home there’s<00:02:35.120> nothing<00:02:35.440> to<00:02:35.519> stop<00:02:35.760> the<00:02:36.000> other<00:02:36.239> people there’s nothing to stop the other people
there’s nothing to stop the other people who<00:02:37.040> use<00:02:37.280> the<00:02:37.440> street who use the street
who use the street from<00:02:38.319> dropping<00:02:38.720> litter<00:02:39.280> and<00:02:39.440> contributing<00:02:40.080> to from dropping litter and contributing to
from dropping litter and contributing to the<00:02:40.319> overall<00:02:40.800> problem the overall problem
the overall problem in<00:02:42.560> these<00:02:42.800> circumstances<00:02:44.400> the<00:02:44.560> individual in these circumstances the individual in these circumstances the individual feels feels
feels powerless<00:02:46.959> in<00:02:47.040> the<00:02:47.200> situation<00:02:48.560> it<00:02:48.720> makes<00:02:49.040> no powerless in the situation it makes no powerless in the situation it makes no difference difference
difference how<00:02:50.560> they<00:02:50.800> behave<00:02:51.920> to<00:02:52.080> the<00:02:52.319> overall<00:02:52.720> problem how they behave to the overall problem
how they behave to the overall problem of<00:02:53.280> public<00:02:53.680> littering of public littering
of public littering economists<00:02:56.400> often<00:02:56.640> describe<00:02:57.440> these<00:02:57.760> kind<00:02:58.000> of economists often describe these kind of economists often describe these kind of situations situations
situations as<00:02:59.440> involving<00:03:00.080> a<00:03:00.319> free<00:03:00.640> rider<00:03:01.440> problem as involving a free rider problem
as involving a free rider problem and<00:03:02.720> this<00:03:02.959> problem<00:03:03.280> is<00:03:03.440> particularly and this problem is particularly
and this problem is particularly pronounced<00:03:05.200> in<00:03:05.360> situations pronounced in situations
pronounced in situations where<00:03:06.959> individuals<00:03:07.840> know<00:03:08.080> that<00:03:09.040> they<00:03:09.200> will where individuals know that they will
where individuals know that they will get<00:03:09.760> away get away
get away with<00:03:10.640> the<00:03:10.800> free-riding<00:03:11.440> behavior<00:03:12.400> that<00:03:12.560> there with the free-riding behavior that there
with the free-riding behavior that there won’t<00:03:12.959> be<00:03:13.120> any<00:03:13.360> social<00:03:13.760> consequences<00:03:14.560> or won’t be any social consequences or won’t be any social consequences or punishments punishments
punishments for<00:03:16.000> acting<00:03:16.400> in<00:03:16.480> this<00:03:16.840> way<00:03:17.920> now<00:03:18.080> of<00:03:18.239> course for acting in this way now of course
for acting in this way now of course if<00:03:19.040> everybody<00:03:19.599> reasons<00:03:20.560> in<00:03:20.720> such<00:03:20.959> a<00:03:21.120> spirit if everybody reasons in such a spirit
if everybody reasons in such a spirit then<00:03:22.400> the<00:03:22.560> problem<00:03:23.280> will<00:03:23.519> not<00:03:23.680> be<00:03:23.840> addressed then the problem will not be addressed
then the problem will not be addressed in<00:03:25.040> this<00:03:25.280> case in this case
in this case people<00:03:26.400> will<00:03:26.640> litter<00:03:27.360> and<00:03:27.519> the<00:03:27.680> streets<00:03:28.480> over people will litter and the streets over people will litter and the streets over time time
time will<00:03:29.760> become<00:03:30.159> dirtier<00:03:30.640> and<00:03:30.840> dirtier<00:03:32.400> the will become dirtier and dirtier the
will become dirtier and dirtier the conservation<00:03:33.280> of<00:03:33.440> forests<00:03:33.920> or<00:03:34.159> fish<00:03:34.400> stocks conservation of forests or fish stocks
conservation of forests or fish stocks often<00:03:35.440> presents<00:03:35.840> the<00:03:36.000> same<00:03:36.319> kind<00:03:36.640> of<00:03:36.799> problem often presents the same kind of problem often presents the same kind of problem an an
an individual<00:03:38.879> or<00:03:39.040> company<00:03:39.840> that<00:03:40.080> makes<00:03:40.319> their individual or company that makes their individual or company that makes their living living
living from<00:03:41.760> cutting<00:03:42.239> trees<00:03:42.799> or<00:03:43.040> harvesting<00:03:43.680> fish from cutting trees or harvesting fish
from cutting trees or harvesting fish may<00:03:45.120> reason<00:03:45.599> that<00:03:46.319> if<00:03:46.480> they<00:03:46.720> take<00:03:47.200> extra<00:03:47.599> trees may reason that if they take extra trees
may reason that if they take extra trees or<00:03:48.239> fish or fish
or fish there<00:03:49.040> will<00:03:49.280> still<00:03:49.519> be<00:03:49.760> plenty<00:03:50.159> left<00:03:50.640> for there will still be plenty left for
there will still be plenty left for others<00:03:51.120> to<00:03:51.360> take others to take
others to take if<00:03:53.200> on<00:03:53.360> the<00:03:53.439> other<00:03:53.680> hand<00:03:54.319> they<00:03:54.480> were<00:03:54.720> to<00:03:54.879> desist if on the other hand they were to desist
if on the other hand they were to desist from<00:03:56.560> taking<00:03:57.200> the<00:03:57.439> trees<00:03:58.159> or<00:03:58.400> the<00:03:58.560> fish from taking the trees or the fish from taking the trees or the fish concerned concerned
concerned then<00:04:00.239> they<00:04:00.400> would<00:04:00.640> simply<00:04:00.959> be<00:04:01.200> leaving<00:04:02.159> those then they would simply be leaving those then they would simply be leaving those resources resources
resources for<00:04:03.519> other<00:04:03.840> actors<00:04:04.239> to<00:04:04.480> exploit<00:04:06.239> if for other actors to exploit if
for other actors to exploit if all<00:04:07.040> of<00:04:07.120> the<00:04:07.280> individuals<00:04:07.920> or<00:04:08.159> companies all of the individuals or companies all of the individuals or companies involved involved
involved in<00:04:10.159> harvesting<00:04:10.959> fish<00:04:11.439> or<00:04:11.680> in<00:04:11.840> forestry<00:04:12.720> think in harvesting fish or in forestry think
in harvesting fish or in forestry think in<00:04:13.120> this<00:04:13.360> way in this way
in this way then<00:04:14.319> pretty<00:04:14.720> soon<00:04:15.519> there'll<00:04:15.760> be<00:04:16.000> no<00:04:16.479> forests then pretty soon there’ll be no forests
then pretty soon there’ll be no forests or<00:04:17.600> fish<00:04:18.000> for<00:04:18.160> people<00:04:18.400> to<00:04:18.560> harvest or fish for people to harvest
or fish for people to harvest moving<00:04:21.199> up<00:04:21.280> to<00:04:21.440> a<00:04:21.519> still<00:04:21.840> higher<00:04:22.240> level<00:04:23.199> global moving up to a still higher level global
moving up to a still higher level global environmental<00:04:24.400> problems environmental problems
environmental problems such<00:04:25.440> as<00:04:25.600> climate<00:04:26.080> change<00:04:26.960> present<00:04:27.360> perhaps such as climate change present perhaps
such as climate change present perhaps the<00:04:27.919> ultimate<00:04:28.400> collective<00:04:28.960> action<00:04:29.280> dilemmas the ultimate collective action dilemmas
the ultimate collective action dilemmas people<00:04:31.600> and<00:04:31.759> countries<00:04:32.240> may<00:04:32.479> reason<00:04:32.800> to people and countries may reason to
people and countries may reason to themselves<00:04:34.160> that<00:04:34.320> they<00:04:34.560> shouldn't<00:04:34.880> desist themselves that they shouldn’t desist
themselves that they shouldn’t desist from<00:04:36.160> emitting<00:04:36.960> carbon<00:04:37.360> dioxide<00:04:38.560> because<00:04:38.880> if from emitting carbon dioxide because if
from emitting carbon dioxide because if they<00:04:39.199> do<00:04:39.440> so they do so
they do so it<00:04:40.400> will<00:04:40.639> fail<00:04:40.960> to<00:04:41.040> make<00:04:41.360> that<00:04:41.520> much it will fail to make that much
it will fail to make that much difference<00:04:42.560> to<00:04:42.720> the<00:04:42.880> overall<00:04:43.360> problem difference to the overall problem
difference to the overall problem and<00:04:44.560> in<00:04:44.639> the<00:04:44.800> meantime<00:04:45.919> there<00:04:46.080> will<00:04:46.160> be and in the meantime there will be
and in the meantime there will be nothing<00:04:46.639> to<00:04:46.800> stop<00:04:47.199> other<00:04:47.440> countries nothing to stop other countries
nothing to stop other countries from<00:04:48.400> emitting<00:04:48.800> the<00:04:48.960> carbon<00:04:49.280> dioxide<00:04:50.080> instead from emitting the carbon dioxide instead
from emitting the carbon dioxide instead if<00:04:52.000> all<00:04:52.479> people<00:04:52.880> and<00:04:53.040> countries<00:04:53.520> reason<00:04:53.919> in if all people and countries reason in
if all people and countries reason in this<00:04:54.320> way this way
this way then<00:04:55.440> they<00:04:55.600> will<00:04:55.840> continue<00:04:56.320> to<00:04:56.479> produce then they will continue to produce
then they will continue to produce carbon<00:04:57.440> dioxide carbon dioxide
carbon dioxide and<00:04:58.560> the<00:04:58.800> climate<00:04:59.199> change<00:04:59.840> dilemma<00:05:00.639> will<00:05:00.960> fail and the climate change dilemma will fail
and the climate change dilemma will fail to<00:05:01.360> be<00:05:01.520> addressed to be addressed
to be addressed now<00:05:03.600> you<00:05:03.840> may<00:05:04.080> think<00:05:04.720> that<00:05:04.880> the<00:05:05.120> solution<00:05:05.680> to now you may think that the solution to
now you may think that the solution to all<00:05:06.000> of<00:05:06.080> these all of these
all of these collective<00:05:07.120> action<00:05:07.440> dilemmas<00:05:08.639> and<00:05:08.800> to<00:05:09.039> free collective action dilemmas and to free
collective action dilemmas and to free riding<00:05:09.840> behavior riding behavior
riding behavior in<00:05:10.639> particular<00:05:12.000> is<00:05:12.240> to<00:05:12.479> inculcate<00:05:13.199> in<00:05:13.440> people in particular is to inculcate in people
in particular is to inculcate in people a<00:05:14.400> very<00:05:14.800> strong<00:05:15.440> moral<00:05:15.919> aversion<00:05:16.880> to<00:05:17.120> behaving a very strong moral aversion to behaving
a very strong moral aversion to behaving in<00:05:17.759> this<00:05:18.080> way in this way
in this way from<00:05:20.000> an<00:05:20.080> economist<00:05:20.639> perspective<00:05:21.199> however from an economist perspective however
from an economist perspective however while<00:05:22.560> this<00:05:22.800> may<00:05:23.039> provide<00:05:23.759> part<00:05:24.240> of<00:05:24.400> the while this may provide part of the while this may provide part of the answer answer
answer it<00:05:25.840> cannot<00:05:26.240> be<00:05:26.800> all<00:05:27.520> of<00:05:27.680> the<00:05:27.840> answer<00:05:28.400> to<00:05:28.639> this it cannot be all of the answer to this
it cannot be all of the answer to this kind<00:05:29.199> of<00:05:29.360> problem kind of problem
kind of problem the<00:05:30.960> reason<00:05:31.280> for<00:05:31.440> this<00:05:31.759> is<00:05:31.919> as<00:05:32.080> follows the reason for this is as follows
the reason for this is as follows unless<00:05:34.240> you<00:05:34.400> live<00:05:34.639> in<00:05:34.720> a<00:05:34.880> society<00:05:35.919> where<00:05:36.240> all unless you live in a society where all
unless you live in a society where all people<00:05:37.039> are people are
people are equally<00:05:37.840> committed<00:05:38.639> to<00:05:38.800> the<00:05:38.960> moral<00:05:39.280> value<00:05:39.600> in equally committed to the moral value in equally committed to the moral value in question question
question then<00:05:41.039> at<00:05:41.280> some<00:05:41.520> point<00:05:42.320> the<00:05:42.560> people<00:05:42.800> who<00:05:42.960> are then at some point the people who are
then at some point the people who are less<00:05:43.440> committed less committed
less committed will<00:05:44.400> start<00:05:44.720> to<00:05:44.960> free<00:05:45.280> ride<00:05:46.400> and<00:05:46.639> as<00:05:46.880> they<00:05:47.120> do will start to free ride and as they do will start to free ride and as they do so so
so this<00:05:48.400> will<00:05:48.639> start<00:05:48.960> to<00:05:49.199> shift<00:05:49.600> the<00:05:49.759> pattern<00:05:50.080> of this will start to shift the pattern of
this will start to shift the pattern of incentives<00:05:51.120> for<00:05:51.360> everybody<00:05:51.840> else incentives for everybody else
incentives for everybody else through<00:05:53.680> a<00:05:53.759> kind<00:05:54.000> of<00:05:54.160> rippling<00:05:54.720> effect through a kind of rippling effect through a kind of rippling effect gradually gradually
gradually the<00:05:56.800> incentive<00:05:57.280> to<00:05:57.440> uphold<00:05:58.000> the<00:05:58.160> rules<00:05:58.720> will the incentive to uphold the rules will
the incentive to uphold the rules will be<00:05:59.039> undermined be undermined
be undermined and<00:06:00.400> we<00:06:00.560> will<00:06:00.720> be<00:06:00.880> left<00:06:01.120> with<00:06:01.280> a<00:06:01.440> situation and we will be left with a situation
and we will be left with a situation where<00:06:02.560> only<00:06:02.880> those<00:06:03.199> who<00:06:03.360> are<00:06:03.440> the<00:06:03.600> very<00:06:03.919> most where only those who are the very most
where only those who are the very most committed<00:06:04.720> to<00:06:04.880> the<00:06:04.960> moral<00:06:05.280> value committed to the moral value
committed to the moral value will<00:06:06.319> continue<00:06:06.800> to<00:06:06.960> uphold<00:06:07.440> it<00:06:08.720> it<00:06:08.880> is<00:06:08.960> for will continue to uphold it it is for
will continue to uphold it it is for this<00:06:09.440> reason this reason
this reason that<00:06:10.080> we<00:06:10.240> may<00:06:10.400> need<00:06:10.639> to<00:06:10.800> rely<00:06:11.280> on<00:06:11.440> institutions that we may need to rely on institutions
that we may need to rely on institutions of<00:06:12.319> governance of governance
of governance and<00:06:13.360> mechanisms<00:06:14.000> for<00:06:14.240> enforcing<00:06:14.800> them<00:06:15.360> that and mechanisms for enforcing them that
and mechanisms for enforcing them that go<00:06:15.840> beyond<00:06:16.319> relying<00:06:16.800> on<00:06:17.120> strong<00:06:17.520> moral go beyond relying on strong moral go beyond relying on strong moral beliefs beliefs
beliefs the<00:06:19.759> question<00:06:20.240> is<00:06:20.800> what<00:06:21.120> kind<00:06:21.360> of<00:06:21.680> rules<00:06:22.160> can the question is what kind of rules can
the question is what kind of rules can perform<00:06:22.880> this<00:06:23.120> function perform this function
perform this function and<00:06:24.319> can<00:06:24.560> they<00:06:24.720> be<00:06:24.960> supplied<00:06:25.600> in<00:06:25.759> a and can they be supplied in a
and can they be supplied in a self-governing<00:06:26.720> manner self-governing manner
self-governing manner this<00:06:28.240> will<00:06:28.400> be<00:06:28.479> the<00:06:28.639> topic<00:06:28.960> that<00:06:29.120> we<00:06:29.280> address this will be the topic that we address
this will be the topic that we address in<00:06:30.000> our<00:06:30.160> next<00:06:32.840> session you
Before we explore how self-governing institutions function, we need to consider the problems they are meant to address. In this video, we discuss what economists call collective action dilemmas.
These dilemmas arise in almost all areas of social life where communities must share resources. Such resources include parks, forests, oceans, or even the air we breathe. They can also include more abstract concepts in which we are all stakeholders, like public health or public safety.
Without governance rules to structure how we manage these shared assets, they can fall into disrepair. Depending on what asset we’re talking about, this can mean ecological ruin, greater crime waves or susceptibility to epidemics. The reason we might witness these forms of institutional dysfunction is that people might lack the proper incentives to take care of the assets in question.
In this video, we’ll dig into why incentives matter and how different kinds of governance arrangements can help re-structure incentives to produce more sustainable outcomes.
This article is from the online course:
The Ideal of Self-Governance: Public Policy Beyond Markets and States
Created by
This article is from the free online
The Ideal of Self-Governance: Public Policy Beyond Markets and States
Reach your personal and professional goals
Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.
Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.
