What Explains Collective Action in the Commons? Theory and Evidence from the Philippines

Abstract

I examine the factors that influence collective action in the commons using econometric analyses on a data set of 1958 irrigation associations in the Philippines. I find that collective action is associated with water scarcity, proximity to markets, group size, farm size, and governance structure. Water scarcity has a curvilinear effect on collective action and is mediated by the governance structure. The results suggest the need for a diagnostic approach in the analysis of institutional arrangements in diverse socio-ecological settings. These also suggest that collective action in the commons is more complex than is conventionally assumed in the decentralization literature. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.