Abstract
The practice and theory of collective action is constrained by a dearth of rigorous empirical tests of why and how such institutions emerge and evolve, and under what conditions they can be successful. Empirical analyses of cooperative watershed management in Haiti reveal that, given a conducive environment and political leadership, groups will emerge and survive where a "critical mass" of individuals have practical knowledge of the potential gains from action. Emergence can be constrained in the short run by: 1. (a)landscape factors that affect the potential net economic gain, and 2. (b)sociocultural factors that affect the cost of constructing the new institution.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1683-1698 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | World Development |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1995 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:* We would first like to express our gratitude to the peasants of Maissade for their cooperation with the study and to the field staff of Save the Children who assisted in dara collection. We thank Hans M. Gregersen and Allen L. Lundgren of the University of Minnesota for their contributions to the research and for their comments on this paper. We also appreciate the financial support of the Inter-American Foundation, which provided funding for the field research, and the USAID, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Training Project. We also appreciate the comments of Norman Uphoff and three anonymous reviewers. Final rev,-sion accepted: April 27, 1995.