In a randomized trial, researchers assessed whether an externally encouraged, community-based monitoring program improved water management. Although replications are needed, the results imply that externally encouraged, community-based monitoring can improve the management of shared resources.
Significance
Elinor Ostrom won the Nobel Prize in Economics for demonstrating that humans can create rules and institutions that permit sustainable management of shared resources without resorting to privatization or government expropriation. One purported enabling condition for success is monitoring of the shared resource by community members. Whether such monitoring can be encouraged where it is absent, and thereby improve resource management, is not well understood. In a randomized trial, we assessed whether an externally encouraged, community-based monitoring program improved water management. After 1 y, we detect modest reductions in groundwater pumping and modest improvements in water quality and user satisfaction. Although replications are needed, the results imply that externally encouraged, community-based monitoring can improve the management of shared resources.
