Some Field Observations on the Applicability of Elinor Ostrom's Work to Contemporary Cooperative Practice

Abstract

"As a pragmatic-idealist young graduate student 25 years ago, I was dissuaded from pursuing further academic work in the field of my interest by the dominance of the neo-classic economic perspective at that time, which -- aside from the irritating pomposity of many of its adherents - -also just seemed to me to be not only depressing, but also just plain wrong about so many situations. So rather than argue, I finished up my Master's degree, tried out a couple of different jobs, and ended spending the last 20 years as a lender and advisor to dozens of small to medium-sized consumer, worker and housing cooperatives. Much of what I have observed in the field bears out the prescience of Elinor Ostrom's work on the nuance of collaborative action - we can and do right by each other when conditions are conducive to it, and we are all the better for helping each other."