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George Mason University

Polycentric Governance: A Theoretical and Empirical Exploration

Abstract

The dissertation overviews and elaborates the concept of polycentricity, and applies it to two cases. Spontaneous order plays an important role in many non-market systems. But not all spontaneous orders are productive or sustainable. The concept of polycentricity aims to describe the productive subset of spontaneous orders, including both markets and non-market forms of organization. Broadly speaking, a polycentric system of governance is a collection of heterogeneous decision centers acting independently, but under a common system of rules and/or norms limiting negative externalities and free riding. The role of the overarching set of rules or norms is to assure that the spontaneous order is indeed productive and sustainable.

Author and committee

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Author
  • Tarko, Vlad

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

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Identifier
hdl:1920/9655
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:MARS:1920/9655

Chain of custody

source
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George Mason University
Base URL
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Last updated
2026-07-27
Source record
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citation

Tarko, Vlad. Polycentric Governance: A Theoretical and Empirical Exploration. 2015.