Quote from Economics Nobel Winner

[PELLUCID]

Today's announcement of the Nobel in Economics featured two researchers whose work has explored the boundary between government and private decision-making. I think the work of Elinor Ostrom is particularly worth quoting. This is from an abstract of a paper on forest preserve management, but if you substitute "coral reef" or "fisheries" or "island ecosystems" the same conclusions would apply:


Governing natural resources sustainably is a continuing struggle...
When users are genuinely engaged in decisions regarding rules affecting their use, the likelihood of them following the rules and monitoring others is much greater than when an authority simply imposes rules.


The complete paper can be found here:
http://www.pnas.org/content/103/51/19224.full.pdf+html?sid=02eeb3be-77b8-42bb-8282-1f342726323c

Wouldn't it be nice if a few of the bright young minds working for the ministries in Nassau decided to read this over their lunch break today... and incorporate some of this vision into future environmental policy?

[gazeboman]

The complete paper can be found here:
http://www.pnas.org/content/103/51/19224.full.pdf+html?sid=02eeb3be-77b8-42bb-8282-1f342726323c
Wouldn't it be nice if a few of the bright young minds working for the ministries in Nassau decided to read this over their lunch break today... and incorporate some of this vision into future environmental policy?

Yes, that would be nice but probably won't happen. Does anyone think there is a chance that the upcoming decision from the privy councel re Bakers bay may cause something of what is suggested above to happen?

[Watercolours]

We do get a bit of user imput from groups that Gov. does hear and descisions are affected by like Friends of The Environment. The more people and groups offer there imput and sometimes oposition the beter it will be. The Gov. has to hear some of it and it will help in there descisions. Look what has just happened with the Wilson City project. Someone is listining maybe a bit late but people were heard. I know for a fact that Bahamas National Trust is way open for help and imput from those of use who use the areas they are protecting. When we speak they do react and help.

[SamFamAustin]

Wow, the first woman to win the kind of prize. As noted in a Washington Post article today, the prize committee passed over many abstract, macro-economic models that would explain the recent recession, but Elinor's work "was grounded in the real world." That is huge news in itself.

Using the "tragedy of the commons" theme, Elinor finds that the more successful environmental efforts are when people voluntarily decide to regulate things like over-grazing - rather than strict regulation by a central government. For example, government-sponsored parks might help, but in some areas of the world, deforestation (or whatever environmental malady) can be worse in and around national parks. It is when people decide to make something sustainable, that goodness really happens. -sammie

[PaBill]

I have been watching a series on PBS about the National Parks System that was created in the US, and it was usually, not a group that lead a charge to preserve but one or two impassioned individuals. They did not force a subject, but swayed people gently allowing them to make a good decision. They told, and showed them how it should be done, they did not demand. They were willing to be examples of how to act.