| dc.description.abstract | Irrigation systems are the life line of many agricultural communities and farmers, and may be common pool resources (CPRs). CPRs are characterised by non-excludability and subtractability. However, irrigation systems are also characterised by the mobile nature of the CPR units: the flow of water. Wrongful management of CPR can result in the depletion of the system, and suffering for the farmers. Scientific literature argues that CPRs can be managed through institutions, preferably self-organising institutions. The formation of these institutions is complex, and no single research method provides a complete understanding of the conditions that foster successful institutions. Through the use of agent-based models (ABM), a deeper understanding of the fundamental workings of this process can be achieved. ABM is particularly useful as a bridge between mathematical/economic equations, and social observations. However, existing ABMs covering the formation of institutions focus on stationary CPR units. No ABMs explore the formation of institutions under the assumption of mobile CPR units.
Focussing on irrigation systems, this thesis describes under which conditions institutions emerge and how they perform. Previous literature on stationary CPR units suggests that stable institutions are crucial for the success of institutions. This thesis asks, how does the mobility of the common-pool resource units affect the formation and success of stable institutions in an agent-based model?
To answer this question, I have designed an ABM heavily based on the combination of the existing ABM by Ghorbani et al. (2017) and the irrigation dilemma by Janssen et al. (2011). In this model, the farmers have to balance their extraction and contribution to maintain the irrigation system. In addition, they can vote on an institution and its design, which limits the farmers extraction and forces contribution. The variables that describe the farmers, the irrigation system, and the collective-choice rules are correlated to the stability of the institution. Additionally, the success of the institutions I measured in terms of CPR sustainability, user welfare, and fairness.
It was found that stable institutions result in more successful outcomes. Resource availability seemed to play a central role formation of institutions. As an important difference with immobile CPR units this ABM showed that an increase of power to a (repressed) minority results in more stable and successful institutions.
This thesis seeks new insights in the formation of institutions. At the same time, this novel ABM can act as a gateway to more applied research opportunities and policy applications. | |
