Governing Complex Commons: Policy Networks and the Local Ecology of Games - NSF Grant SES-0921461 (2010-2012)

This proposed research develops an "ecology of games" framework to understand how political actors in complex policy systems interact with each other, and how these interactions affect the potential outcomes of collective-action dilemmas. We will study the ecology of games in the context of environmental policy, in particular water management in coastal watersheds or estuaries. Watersheds provide an excellent research setting because they encompass multiple collective-action problems (e.g., flood control, water supply, water quality, and biodiversity), many different actors have a stake in the resolution of these problems (e.g., landowners, environmental groups, utility companies), and multiple venues generally have jurisdiction over the issues (e.g., environmental planning, regulations, partnerships). Our ultimate aim is to understand the factors most critical in affecting policy decisions and behaviors in complex institutional settings.

NSF Grant Proposal | Proposal References