Institutional Choice, or a Process of Struggle? A Case Study of Forest Co-Management in Mexico

Abstract

"Change in the commons is poorly understood. After considering developments of theory on common pool resource management, this essay analyzes a comparative case study of community forestry in Mexico. It contrasts a community suffering from corruption in the logging business and timber smuggling with a set of forestry communities having institutions able to control these issues. A discussion assesses the utility of institutional choice models for change in the commons, and draws out implications for theory building and analysis."