ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the potential effects of dividing a commons into smaller areas on appropriation efficiency. Most of the successful cases of collective action in common-pool resources (CPR) management involve some kind of geographic separation of the commons and subsequent assignment of de jure or de facto property rights. A simple model that incorporates separation and cooperation rules and norms into a standard game of the commons setup is presented, and conditions under which this game results in an efficient equilibrium are analyzed. We tested the conclusions of this model using a laboratory experiment utilizing both undergraduate students and professional fishermen, and our abbreviated results of this experiment appear below. This chapter shows that, under some simple assumptions, enforcing the geographic separation of a commons may become a valuable and effective tool in a successful co-management system.
