Choice, Rules and Collective Action: The Ostroms on the Study of Institutions and Governance (Ecpr Essays) by (May 9, 2014) Paperback

by Elinor Ostrom

This volume brings a set of key works by Elinor Ostrom, co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, together with those of Vincent Ostrom, one of the originators of Public Choice political economy. The two scholars introduce and expound their approaches and analytical perspectives on the study of institutions and governance. The book puts together works representing the main analytical and conceptual vehicles articulated by the Ostroms to create the Bloomington School of public choice and institutional theory. Their endeavours sought to ‘re-establish the priority of theory over data collection and analysis’, and to better integrate theory and practice. These efforts are illustrated via selected texts, organised around three the political economy and public choice roots of their work in creating a distinct branch of political economy; the evolutionary nature of their work that led them to go beyond mainstream public choice, thereby enriching the public choice tradition itself; and, finally, the foundational and epistemological dimensions and implications of their work. ‘This is a wonderful collection of the writings of two of our most distinguished colleagues in political science. Lin and Vince Ostrom have been an inspiration to many of us. While they will be missed, they will also be remembered, in no small measure because of their voluminous research corpus ‒ a portion of which is collected here.’Kenneth A ShepsleGeorge Markham Professor of Government, Harvard University

Genres: Economics

Unknown Binding

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Elinor Ostrom won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics.

Reviews

[Janet Bufton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of articles, public talks, and book chapters from Elinor Ostrom, 2009 Nobel Laureate, and her husband Vincent is an excellent introduction to both their work on collective choice and to their joint project to shift the goals of political science and build a more effective democratic polity to undergird democracy. What's better, these essays are accessible even for those with a very light background in economics or political science.

It's clear when reading this book that the Ostroms spent their lives embarked on a labour of love for learning, for ordinary people, and for each other. I'd recommend this book especially highly for anyone who's read them only separately before now.

[Sabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of the best of the Ostroms! Highly recommend.