Toward comparative institutional analysis of polycentric social‐ecological systems governance

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a conceptual approach that allows better understanding of what determines the performance of polycentric governance. The paper first identifies discrete structural alternatives of polycentric governance types (Public Service Industries). We suggest that efficient performance of Public Service Industries is shaped by variations in social‐problem characteristics (determining potential types of governance) and constitutional and overarching rules (of people's choosing), which jointly determine the credibility with which citizen‐consumers are able to discipline the activities of agents involved in governance. We illustrate this approach through the case of transnational biofuel governance in the European Union. We find that constitutionally granted (lack of) transparency and accountability are, in this case, pivotal for relatively inefficient governance of public goods. However, we also acknowledge the difficulties of assessing performance of polycentric governance based on single case studies. To overcome this problem, we suggest Comparative Institutional Analysis, which selects case studies according to social problem characteristics that are responsible for particular kinds of performance (e.g., efficiency) of polycentric governance types. This would allow scholars associated with the Bloomington School of Political Economy but also scholars analyzing governance from perspectives adopting similar assumptions to learn more about how constitutional rules shape the performance of polycentric governance types to build sound policy recommendations derived from this.

Bringing polycentric systems into focus for environmental governance

“…Mewhirter et al () further demonstrate how to use network analyses from surveys of actors in a polycentric system to understand the interdependencies across decision‐making centers. Other methodological advancements offered in the papers that help unpack the longitudinal elements of polycentric systems include process tracing (Tormoss‐Aponte & García‐López, ), reduced form analysis (Thiel & Moser, ) and historical assessment (Carlisle and Gruby, ). Several papers also combine diverse data sources (e.g., interviews, document analyses, surveys) to build more rigorous and nuanced case studies (Villamayor‐Tomas, ; Baldwin et al, ; Schröder, ).…”

“…Much of the prior literature has focused on classic “common pool resource” (CPR) settings such as water and fisheries. While we include articles that fit within these more classic settings (e.g., Baldwin et al, ; Carlisle & Gruby, ), the special issue includes cases that are not classic CPR settings, such as polycentric social movements in climate justice (Tormos‐Aponte & García‐López, ); oil and gas regulations (Heikkila & Weible, ); and biofuels (Thiel & Moser, ). Additionally, the special issue offers advancements in understanding the more classic CPR settings, by paying attention to multidimensional problems such as the maintenance of the ecological health of urban water systems (Schröder, ) or the management of water and energy by user associations/organizations (Villamayor‐Tomas, ).…”

“…Baldwin and colleagues () further highlight that by focusing on a particular aspect of performance—in their case the ability of actors in a polycentric system to engage in collective action—scholars can uncover additional features that may be important to assessing performance. Thiel and Moser () call for a focus on the social characteristics to support more systematic evaluation of performance, including the effect of differences in constitutional rules (e.g., decentralization or centralization) in regions addressing problems with similar social characteristics. They also call for enlarging the range of criteria used to assess polycentric governance to include flexibility, resilience and equity alongside effectiveness and efficiency.…”

“….. any island of polycentric order entails and presses for polycentricism in other areas, creating a tension toward change in its direction.” Further research on cross‐sector spillovers (deforestation and water scarcity, water and energy use trade‐offs, land and water use) could test such a hypothesis. Second, more sophisticated theorizing about how context matters for determining the structures and functions of polycentric systems is needed (see Baldwin et al, ; Thiel & Moser, ). Related to this is the need to examine “the relationship between functionality and polycentric governance systems exhibiting varying degrees or configurations of local‐ and higher‐level decision‐making” (Carlisle & Gruby, , p. 223).…”

“…Further research on cross-sector spillovers (deforestation and water scarcity, water and energy use trade-offs, land and water use) could test such a hypothesis. Second, more sophisticated theorizing about how context matters for determining the structures and functions of polycentric systems is needed (see Baldwin et al, 2018;Thiel & Moser, 2018).…”