Publications - Journal Articles

Introduction: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization Vincent and Elinor Ostrom Lifetime Achievement Award

Published in
Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Peter J. Boettke | Jun 01, 2005
This introduction is taken from a special issue of the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, “Polycentric Political Economy: A Festschrift for Elinor and Vincent Ostrom."

The Concept of Contingency and the Scholarship of Elinor Ostrom on the Commons - Commentary on Tom Dietz's 'The Darwinian Trope in the Drama of the Commons'

Mark Sproule-Jones | Jun 01, 2005
Analysis of the work of Elinor Ostrom and the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis at Indiana University, with emphasis on common pools and institutional…

Towards a Democratic Civilization for the 21st Century

Sujai Shivakumar | Jun 01, 2005
In a world where state failure in the Third World has led to development failure and more, Vincent Ostrom’s contributions show what is required to achieve a vibrant democratic civilization in this…

Self-Enforcing Arrangements in African Political Economy

Published in
Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Peter Leeson | Jun 01, 2005
Self-enforcing arrangements are crucial to the study of African political economy. The weakness of formal governance in much of Africa makes understanding informal institutions of cooperation particularly important. I consider the application of self-enforcing arrangements, like those described by the Ostroms, to the problems of violence and social heterogeneity that plague Africa.

The Darwinian Trope in the Drama of the Commons: Variations on Some Themes by the Ostroms

Thomas Dietz | Jun 01, 2005
This paper focuses on several of the major themes and strategies from the work of the Ostroms on the topic of the commons. It decants some concepts and approaches that foreshadow how we might best…

Beyond Individualism and Spontaneity: Comments on Peter Boettke and Christopher Coyne

This paper builds on the work of Boettke and Coyne that locates the research of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom and their Workshop colleagues within a broad intellectual tradition of long duration. It is…

Institutional Analysis and Economic Development Policy

Published in
Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Paul Dragos Aligica | Jun 01, 2005
This paper takes as a starting point Boettke and Coyne’s argument and uses it as a vehicle in order to focus on one aspect related to the Bloomington research program that was mentioned but not elaborated by them: the applied theory agenda that this program has been inspiring. Specific concentration is placed on one particular facet of that agenda: the issue of economic development policies.

What African Analysts Can Learn From the Ostroms

Amos Sawyer | Jun 01, 2005
The work of Vincent and Lin Ostrom provides insights and analytic tools that can be helpful to scholars and practitioners who address Africa’s governance challenges.

Commentary on Richard Wagner's ''Self-governance, Polycentrism, and Federalism in Vincent Ostrom's Scholarly Oeuvre''

In this essay, Professor Herzberg respons to Richard Wagner’s analysis of three important themes in Vincent Ostrom’s work: self-governance, polycentricity and federalism.

The Limits of Economic Expertise

Prophets, Engineers, and the State in the History of Development Economics
Published in
History of Political Economy
Peter J. Boettke, Steven Horwitz | Apr 18, 2005
What role is there for government in promoting the economic well-being of citizens within its national boundaries? If one assumes that political authority derives its legitimacy in part from the satisfaction it affords its subjects, then it follows that a "good" government will adopt policies that will enhance the economic well-being of its citizens.