Becker, Nir, and K. William Easter (1990) Independent Versus Unified Managment for the Great Lakes Basin

Conference: Presented at "Designing Sustainability on the Commons," the first annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property (IASCP), Duke University, Durham, NC, September 27-30, 1990.

Abstract: "Within the Great Lakes basin there is growing concern about water being withdrawn from the lakes for use wither in the basin or in points outside the basin. Given that the Great Lakes are a common property resource managed by eight U. S. States and two Canadian Provinces the opportunities for conflicts over these withdrawals are substantial. In our paper we will explore the different sources of water use conflicts and estimate the possible loses caused when each state and province pursue their own self-interest. These outcomes will be compared with one from a unified management where all states and provinces cooperate. The emphasis will be on the distribution of benefits and costs in each outcome."