How to Catch a Seal? The Study of Rational Norms of 19th Century Island Communities in Western Coast of Estonia Cover Image

How to Catch a Seal? The Study of Rational Norms of 19th Century Island Communities in Western Coast of Estonia
How to Catch a Seal? The Study of Rational Norms of 19th Century Island Communities in Western Coast of Estonia

Author(s): Kaire Põder
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Central European University (CEU) - Center for Policy Studies

Summary/Abstract: This paper states that small communities are able to solve the tragedy of the commons by consent over social norms which change the structure of social trap games. I argue that social traps, which are caused by rational human behavior, thus have informal institutional solutions. I show that individual benefits from cooperation and costs of enforcement of social norms are dependent on group size – community management can be effective when the community is small. The discrete cut which divides communities into small and large is between 50-400 players. My cases are communities which are situated on the islands and islets on the western coast of Estonia.

  • Issue Year: 2006
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 03-15
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: English