4.1.4 Designing commons

Helpful prior knowledge and learning objectives

Helpful prior learning:


Learning objectives:

For decades, economists in market-based economies  have assumed shared resources like forests or water systems will inevitably be overused and destroyed. This assumption, called the tragedy of the commons (Section 4.1.2), argues self-interest drives people to compete for resources, leaving everyone worse off. Economists often claim the only solutions were state regulation or privatisation (Section 3.2.3).

But the tragedy of the commons narrative doesn’t reflect reality. Many communities around the world manage shared resources sustainably. Indigenous communities and local groups have long protected lands, waters and ecosystems by cooperating and sharing responsibly. When people feel a sense of responsibility and have a say in decision-making, they can sustain resources together. 

Political scientist Elinor Ostrom studied how communities manage shared resources. Her groundbreaking research showed that communities worldwide had developed effective systems for resource management. Ostrom used these examples to develop theories about how to effectively design commons.

In 2009, Ostrom became the first woman and first political scientist to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. Her work proves that perspectives from outside a discipline can bring new insights, underscoring the importance of systems thinking and transdisciplinary studies.

Photograph of Elinor Ostrom

Figure 1. Elinor Ostrom in 1968

(Credit: Indiana University)

What did Ostrom's research tell us about how to design commons?

Ostrom summarised her findings to show the patterns of behaviour and relationships that help make commoning possible. These patterns are not a blueprint for commoning, because every commons is unique due to the particular characteristics of the resource and the culture of the people involved in commoning. But these patterns do give us some clues for how communities can successfully share and care for resources.

Illustrations of Elinor Ostrom's eight patterns of commoning

Figure 2. Elinor Ostrom laid out eight design patterns for commoning

(Credit: Heinrich Böll Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0)

What are Ostrom’s eight design patterns of commoning?

Let’s explore each of these eight patterns from the perspective of commoners—people who are actively involved in sharing and caring for their resources.

As a commoner, I clearly understand which resources I need to care for and with whom I share this responsibility.

Every commons has boundaries. It’s crucial for commoners to know what resources they’re taking care of and who else is involved. This isn’t about excluding people but about ensuring that those who share the resource understand their responsibilities. For example, if a community shares a set of tools, then they need to know what tools are included and who is responsible for the care and maintenance of the tools.

We use the commons resources that we create, care for, and maintain. We use the means (time, space, technology, and the quantity of a resource) that are available in a given context. As a commoner, I am satisfied that there is a fair relationship between my contributions and the benefits I receive.

It’s essential that everyone feels their efforts are fairly recognized and rewarded. If some people put in a lot of time and effort to take care of a shared garden, while others reap the benefits without contributing, resentment can build. Therefore, it’s important that the use of the resource and the benefits are balanced and agreed upon by everyone involved.

We enter into or modify our own rules and commitments, and every commoner can participate in this process. Our commitments serve to create, maintain, and preserve the commons to satisfy our needs.

In a commons, rules are not handed down from above. Instead, commoners themselves decide how the resource should be managed. They make the rules together and can change them if circumstances shift. This participation helps everyone feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the commons.

We monitor the respect of these commitments ourselves and sometimes we mandate others whom we trust to help reach this goal. We continually reassess whether our commitments still serve their purpose.

Keeping an eye on how the rules are being followed is a shared responsibility. In some communities, members take turns watching over the resource. In others, trusted members are appointed to ensure that everyone is respecting the agreed-upon commitments. Monitoring isn’t about catching people out— it’s about caring for the resource.

We work out appropriate rules for dealing with violations of our commitments. We determine whether and what kinds of sanctions shall be used, depending on the context and severity of a violation.

Inevitably, there will be times when someone doesn’t follow the agreed rules. When this happens, the community decides together how to handle it. Sanctions can range from a gentle reminder to more serious penalties, depending on the context. The goal is not punishment for its own sake, but rather to restore balance and fairness within the commons.

Every commoner can make use of a space and means for conflict resolution. We seek to resolve conflicts among us in an easily accessible and straightforward way.

Conflict is a natural part of any community, but it’s important to have a process for resolving disagreements fairly and respectfully. Every commoner should feel that they have a voice and that their concerns will be heard. This helps build trust and cooperation within the community.

We regulate our own affairs, and external authorities respect that.

A true commons is self-governed. This doesn’t mean ignoring external laws or authorities, but it does mean that the community makes its own decisions about how to manage and use its resources. External authorities should recognise and respect the community’s ability to manage its own affairs.

We realise that every commons is part of a larger whole. Therefore, different institutions working at different scales are needed to coordinate stewardship and to cooperate with each other.

Local commons are often connected to larger ecosystems and social systems. This means that communities need to cooperate with others and coordinate their efforts on a larger scale. For example, if one village shares a water source with other villages, they need to communicate and collaborate to make sure the water is used sustainably.

These eight patterns show how commoning isn’t just about using resources—it’s about building relationships, trust, and shared responsibility. When communities follow these patterns, they can create resilient, sustainable systems for managing shared resources. It’s a powerful reminder that people are capable of more than just acting out of self-interest. We can come together to care for what we share, creating a future that benefits the commoning community.

Activity 4.1.4

Concept: Systems

Skills: Thinking skills (transfer, critical thinking)

Time: varies, depending on the option

Type: Individual, pairs, group


Option 1: How can commons be designed to protect the fish in the pond?

Time: 40 minutes

This document is a detailed lesson plan for simulating the tragedy of the commons and teaching Ostrom’s eight patterns for designing effective commons. If you are a teacher, you can set up the simulation to run in class. If you are a student, you can set up the simulation to teach others.


Option 2: Shared resources in the school

Time: varies, but likely more than one period

There are likely shared spaces in your school where commoning is already happening: a common or break room, the playground, gym, library, bathroom or other space. Choose one of these spaces and:

Once you have this information in hand, consider the eight design principles for designing effective commons and brainstorm how the commoning related to the shared space you discussed could be improved. Share your ideas with others.


Option 3: Reflecting on the “global commons”

Time: 20 minutes

Many people talk about managing our “global commons”, such as the Earth’s atmosphere and the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into it. 


Ideas for longer activities and projects are listed in Subtopic 4.5 Taking action

Checking for understanding

Further exploration

Sources

Bollier. D. (2021). The Commoners Catalog For Changemaking: Tools for the Transitions Ahead.  https://commonerscatalog.org/

Bollier, D. and Helfrich, S. (2019). “Part II: The Triad of Commoning”. Free, Fair and Alive: The Insurgent Power of the Commons. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers. https://freefairandalive.org/read-it/

Bollier, D.  (2025). Think Like a Commoner, 2nd edition. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers. https://www.thinklikeacommoner.com/

Heinrich Böll Stiftung. (2023, April 19). “Elinor Ostrom and 8 rules for managing the commons.” https://tn.boell.org/en/2023/04/19/5-elinor-ostrom-et-les-huit-principes-de-gestion-des-communs

Indiana University (n.d.). “Ostrom Workshop.” https://ostromworkshop.indiana.edu/about/index.html

Ostrom, Elinor (1990). Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. Cambridge University Press.

Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist. London: Penguin Random House.

Terminology (in order of appearance)

Link to Quizlet interactive flashcards and terminology games for Section 4.1.4 Designing commons


market-based economy: an economic system in which many or most decisions regarding investment, production and distribution are guided by price signals in markets

assumption: what we believe to be true, without necessarily having supporting evidence

tragedy of the commons: when shared resources are overused and depleted

regulation: a rule that guides individual or group behaviour and enforced by an authority

privatise: to transfer (a business, property or service) from public to private ownership and control

narrative: a story that frames the way we think about a situation and impacts the way we behave

sustainability: meeting people’s needs within the means of the planet

Indigenous community: the original settlers of an area (pre-invasion/colonialism) who have retained their culture apart from colonisers

ecosystem: the interaction of groups of organisms with each other and their physical environment

systems thinking: a way of making sense of the complexity of the world by looking at it in terms of wholes and relationships rather than by splitting it down into its parts

culture: the beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviours and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

care: the act of providing what is necessary for the health, welfare, upkeep, and protection of someone or something

stewardship: the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organisation or ecosystem

resilient: able to recover after a disturbance

sustainable: meeting human needs within planetary limits

system: a set of interdependent parts that organise to create a functional whole

carbon dioxide (CO2): gas produced by burning carbon or organic compounds and through respiration, naturally present in the atmosphere and absorbed by plants in photosynthesis