Vincent Ostrom
Encyclopedia
Vincent Ostrom is the Founding Director of the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, based at Indiana University and the Arthur F. Bentley Professor Emeritus of Political Science. He and his wife, Elinor Ostrom
, have made a lifetime of contributions to the field of political science. Vincent Ostrom has made particular study of fragmentation theory, rational choice theory
, federalism
, common-pool resources and polycentrism
in government, basing much of his research on the work of early 20th century political economists Frank Knight
, Ludwig von Mises
, and Friedrich von Hayek. The Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization published a special issue, "Polycentric Political Economy: A Festschrift for Elinor and Vincent Ostrom", as the proceedings of a 2003 conference held in their honor, at the Mercatus Center
at George Mason University
.
(1938–1940). He went on to receive a B.A. in political science (1942) and a M.A (1945) from UCLA. He received a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) in political science in 1950.
. The Workshop is committed to the collaborative engagement of faculty, students, and scholars, with a mission of advancing "the interdisciplinary study of institutions, incentives, and behavior as they relate to policy-relevant applications." Research focuses on polycentrism, common-pool resources, and the roles of self-governance and collective action. Earlier in his career, Ostrom held faculty positions at the University of Wyoming
, the University of Oregon
, and UCLA. Among several special assignments, he was a key consultant to the Alaska Constitutional Convention (1955–1956) in the drafting of the Natural Resource Article of the Constitution of Alaska. This mandated that the people, rather than the state, own the state’s resources. He is still today recognized for this work. He has served on the editorial board for journals such as American Political Science Review
(1957–1960), Public Administration Review
(Editor-in-Chief, 1963–1966), Publius: The Journal of Federalism (1972–2005), Constitutional Political Economy
(1989–present), and International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior (1997–2006).http://www.indiana.edu/~workshop/people/vincent_ostrom.pdf
Ostrom co-developed (with Charles Tiebout
and Robert Warren) and refined the concept of polycentricity in public administration - or multiple, formally independent decision-making centers within a system of government. He proposed that quasi-market conditions (i.e. competition) between decision centers would increase flexibility and responsiveness. In contrast to hierarchical frameworks, polycentrism removes government from the focal point of ultimate knowledge and authority. Ostrom treats government, not as the intervening and choosing entity for society, but as the nexus in which people participate in self-governance. Beginning with his early work on water resource rights, Ostrom has sought to analyze the operation of the public economy using a polycentric analytical framework.
Ostrom has been recognized for advancing rational choice theory
and democratic administration, not just as a means for understanding bureaucratic behavior and the provision of public services, but as a distinct theory of public administration. Rational choice theory
of administration, Ostrom argued, provides a balance and foundation for public administration based on the democratic principles of the U.S. Constitution. In his 1973 book, The Intellectual Crisis in Public Administration, Ostrom outlines his observation of a breaking down of the intellectual foundation of public administration as formulated by Woodrow Wilson, concisely, the concentration of power centers in government and the separation of the will of the state (policy) from administration. He noted increases in citizen involvement in decision processes and the broad diffusion of power. A democratic administration has a more heterogeneous, "bottom, up" character in contrast with ordered, trickle-down hierarchies. Ostrom considers the hierarchical order, accountable to a single center of power, less capable of serving the diverse needs among citizens and coping with diverse conditions, and less cost efficient than a polycentric administration. Fragmentation of authority among decision centers within a jurisdiction and the overlapping of jurisdictional authority are key to advancing human welfare and a stable political order.
Public choice theory
and the arguments for democratic administration put forward by Ostrom have been subject to critique, notably by Robert T. Golembiewski, who challenged that some of Ostrom's methodology have "closed-system" circularity and that the assumptions lack "real-world" applicability. Golembiewski claims that public choice theory
lacks sufficient rigor in its treatment of the self-interest and preference ordering of individuals and that there are significant gaps in the criteria to define efficiency - the scale and goals of public organizations. Decentralization is not necessarily more efficient, democratic, or moral, nor should an either/or approach be taken to centralization vs. decentralization, argues Golembiewski.
Ostrom counters that a degree of circularity in arguments is necessary for analytical rigor, and the use of uncertainty assumptions is preferable and more realistic than assumptions of perfect data. He clarifies his view of the advantages to having a diversity of scales in government, that smaller is not always better. He concludes that the comprehension of arguments consistent with the author's intent is required to formulate and test competing hypotheses and to make disciplined choices that advance political theory.
Elinor Ostrom
Elinor Ostrom is an American political economist. She was awarded the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, which she shared with Oliver E. Williamson, for "her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons." She was the first, and to date, the only woman to win the prize in...
, have made a lifetime of contributions to the field of political science. Vincent Ostrom has made particular study of fragmentation theory, rational choice theory
Rational choice theory
Rational choice theory, also known as choice theory or rational action theory, is a framework for understanding and often formally modeling social and economic behavior. It is the main theoretical paradigm in the currently-dominant school of microeconomics...
, federalism
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
, common-pool resources and polycentrism
Polycentrism
Polycentrism is the principle of organization of a region around several political, social or financial centres. Examples of polycentric cities include the Ruhr area in Germany, and Stoke-on-Trent in the UK. Today, the former is a large city that grew from a dozen smaller cities, the latter a...
in government, basing much of his research on the work of early 20th century political economists Frank Knight
Frank Knight
Frank Hyneman Knight was an American economist who spent most of his career at the University of Chicago, where he became one of the founders of the Chicago school. Nobel laureates James M. Buchanan, Milton Friedman and George Stigler were all students of Knight at Chicago. Knight supervised...
, Ludwig von Mises
Ludwig von Mises
Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises was an Austrian economist, philosopher, and classical liberal who had a significant influence on the modern Libertarian movement and the "Austrian School" of economic thought.-Biography:-Early life:...
, and Friedrich von Hayek. The Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization published a special issue, "Polycentric Political Economy: A Festschrift for Elinor and Vincent Ostrom", as the proceedings of a 2003 conference held in their honor, at the Mercatus Center
Mercatus Center
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University in the United States is a non-profit market-oriented research, education, and outreach think tank affiliated with the Koch family. It works with policy experts, lobbyists, and government officials to connect academic learning and real-world practice...
at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
.
Education
Ostrom graduated from Mt. Baker Union High School, in Deming, Washington (1937) and attended Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
(1938–1940). He went on to receive a B.A. in political science (1942) and a M.A (1945) from UCLA. He received a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA) in political science in 1950.
Career
Ostrom came to Indiana University in 1964 as a Professor of Political Science and co-founded the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis with his wife and colleague, Elinor OstromElinor Ostrom
Elinor Ostrom is an American political economist. She was awarded the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, which she shared with Oliver E. Williamson, for "her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons." She was the first, and to date, the only woman to win the prize in...
. The Workshop is committed to the collaborative engagement of faculty, students, and scholars, with a mission of advancing "the interdisciplinary study of institutions, incentives, and behavior as they relate to policy-relevant applications." Research focuses on polycentrism, common-pool resources, and the roles of self-governance and collective action. Earlier in his career, Ostrom held faculty positions at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, and UCLA. Among several special assignments, he was a key consultant to the Alaska Constitutional Convention (1955–1956) in the drafting of the Natural Resource Article of the Constitution of Alaska. This mandated that the people, rather than the state, own the state’s resources. He is still today recognized for this work. He has served on the editorial board for journals such as American Political Science Review
American Political Science Review
The American Political Science Review is the flagship publication of the American Political Science Association and is the most prestigious journal in political science according to the ISI 2004 Journal Citation Report...
(1957–1960), Public Administration Review
Public Administration Review
Public Administration Review is a bi-monthly academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Society for Public Administration. The editor is Richard J. Stillman II....
(Editor-in-Chief, 1963–1966), Publius: The Journal of Federalism (1972–2005), Constitutional Political Economy
Constitutional Political Economy
Constitutional Political Economy is a journal on constitutional economics published by Springer since 1990. Originally triannual, it has been a quarterly since 1996....
(1989–present), and International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior (1997–2006).http://www.indiana.edu/~workshop/people/vincent_ostrom.pdf
Research
Ostrom's work can be summarized as seeking to understand the decision-making process of individuals and the balance between group and individual interests. This study involves attention to what drives human behavior (altruism or self-interest), the effect of institutions and rules on individual and group behavior, and how institutions transform and are transformed by individuals.Ostrom co-developed (with Charles Tiebout
Charles Tiebout
Charles Mills Tiebout was an economist and geographer most known for his development of the Tiebout model, which suggested that there were actually non-political solutions to the free rider problem in local governance. Graduated Wesleyan University in 1950, received PhD in economics in University...
and Robert Warren) and refined the concept of polycentricity in public administration - or multiple, formally independent decision-making centers within a system of government. He proposed that quasi-market conditions (i.e. competition) between decision centers would increase flexibility and responsiveness. In contrast to hierarchical frameworks, polycentrism removes government from the focal point of ultimate knowledge and authority. Ostrom treats government, not as the intervening and choosing entity for society, but as the nexus in which people participate in self-governance. Beginning with his early work on water resource rights, Ostrom has sought to analyze the operation of the public economy using a polycentric analytical framework.
Ostrom has been recognized for advancing rational choice theory
Rational choice theory
Rational choice theory, also known as choice theory or rational action theory, is a framework for understanding and often formally modeling social and economic behavior. It is the main theoretical paradigm in the currently-dominant school of microeconomics...
and democratic administration, not just as a means for understanding bureaucratic behavior and the provision of public services, but as a distinct theory of public administration. Rational choice theory
Rational choice theory
Rational choice theory, also known as choice theory or rational action theory, is a framework for understanding and often formally modeling social and economic behavior. It is the main theoretical paradigm in the currently-dominant school of microeconomics...
of administration, Ostrom argued, provides a balance and foundation for public administration based on the democratic principles of the U.S. Constitution. In his 1973 book, The Intellectual Crisis in Public Administration, Ostrom outlines his observation of a breaking down of the intellectual foundation of public administration as formulated by Woodrow Wilson, concisely, the concentration of power centers in government and the separation of the will of the state (policy) from administration. He noted increases in citizen involvement in decision processes and the broad diffusion of power. A democratic administration has a more heterogeneous, "bottom, up" character in contrast with ordered, trickle-down hierarchies. Ostrom considers the hierarchical order, accountable to a single center of power, less capable of serving the diverse needs among citizens and coping with diverse conditions, and less cost efficient than a polycentric administration. Fragmentation of authority among decision centers within a jurisdiction and the overlapping of jurisdictional authority are key to advancing human welfare and a stable political order.
Public choice theory
Public choice theory
In economics, public choice theory is the use of modern economic tools to study problems that traditionally are in the province of political science...
and the arguments for democratic administration put forward by Ostrom have been subject to critique, notably by Robert T. Golembiewski, who challenged that some of Ostrom's methodology have "closed-system" circularity and that the assumptions lack "real-world" applicability. Golembiewski claims that public choice theory
Public choice theory
In economics, public choice theory is the use of modern economic tools to study problems that traditionally are in the province of political science...
lacks sufficient rigor in its treatment of the self-interest and preference ordering of individuals and that there are significant gaps in the criteria to define efficiency - the scale and goals of public organizations. Decentralization is not necessarily more efficient, democratic, or moral, nor should an either/or approach be taken to centralization vs. decentralization, argues Golembiewski.
Ostrom counters that a degree of circularity in arguments is necessary for analytical rigor, and the use of uncertainty assumptions is preferable and more realistic than assumptions of perfect data. He clarifies his view of the advantages to having a diversity of scales in government, that smaller is not always better. He concludes that the comprehension of arguments consistent with the author's intent is required to formulate and test competing hypotheses and to make disciplined choices that advance political theory.
Awards
Ostrom has been honored for his excellence and contributions to the field of public policy:- 1991 - The Daniel Elazar Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Political Science AssociationAmerican Political Science AssociationThe American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
for his lifetime of contributions to the study of federalism and intergovernmental relations. - 1999 - The Martha Derthick Best Book Award from the American Political Science AssociationAmerican Political Science AssociationThe American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
, which is awarded for books published at least ten years prior with lasting contributions to the study of federalism and intergovernmental relations. Note: See Publications. - 2003 - The Robert O. Anderson Sustainable Arctic Award from the Institute of the North for his contributions in drafting the Natural Resource Article of the Alaskan Constitution.
- 2003 - The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Atlas Economic Research FoundationAtlas Economic Research FoundationThe Atlas Economic Research Foundation, also known as the Atlas Network, is a non-profit organization based in the United States which organizes and convenes workshops, offers training, runs prize programs, and provides advisory services in order to continue growing and strengthening an informal...
for his contributions to the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis (co-recipient with Elinor OstromElinor OstromElinor Ostrom is an American political economist. She was awarded the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, which she shared with Oliver E. Williamson, for "her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons." She was the first, and to date, the only woman to win the prize in...
). - 2005 - The John Gaus Distinguished Lecturer Award from the American Political Science AssociationAmerican Political Science AssociationThe American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
for his lifetime of exemplary scholarship in political science and public administration.
Publications
Ostrom has written extensively on topics such as water usage policy, political economy, federalism, metropolitan government, and public choice. His list of publications include greater than 120 journal articles, chapters in books and proceedings, monographs, and books. A selection are noted below:- Water and Politics: A Study of Water Policies and Administration in the Development of Los Angeles. Los Angeles: The Haynes Foundation, 1953.
- “A Behavioral Approach to the Study of Intergovernmental Relations” with Elinor Ostrom. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 359 (May 1965), 137–46.
- Understanding Urban Government: Metropolitan Reform Reconsidered with Robert Bish. Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute, 1973.
- “Religion and the Constitution of the American Political System.” Emory Law Journal 39(1) (Winter 1990), 165–90.
- The Meaning of American Federalism: Constituting a Self-Governing Society. San Francisco: Institute for Contemporary Studies Press, 1991. 4
- “Epistemic Choice and Public Choice.” Public Choice 77(1) (September 1993), 163-76.
- “The Quest for Meaning in Public Choice,” with Elinor Ostrom. The American Journal of Economics and SociologyThe American Journal of Economics and SociologyThe American Journal of Economics and Sociology is a peer-reviewed academic journal established in 1941 by Will Lissner with support from the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. The purpose of the journal was to create a forum for a continuing discussion of the issues raised by Henry George, a...
63(1) (January 2004): 105-47. Online - The Political Theory of a Compound Republic: Designing the American Experiment. 3rd ed. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2008 [1st ed. 1971; 2nd ed. 1987]. Note: This book was awarded the "Martha Derthick Best Book Award" at the 1999 American Political Science Association meeting.