Research Seminar Environmental & Development Economics“Participatory policy approaches and cooperation in forest commons: Experimental evidence from Program Bolsa Floresta in Brazil“Charles Palmer (The London School of Economics and Political Science)

19. Dezember 2018

The Research Seminar Environmental & Development Economics welcomes Charles Palmer (The London School of Economics and Political Science), who will present his work on

“Participatory policy approaches and cooperation in forest commons: Experimental evidence from Program Bolsa Floresta in Brazil”.

Place: Zentralbibliothek Recht, Rothenbaumchaussee 33 (Google Maps), Room Ro 33 BG 3/4
Hour: 12:15-13:45
We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Abstract
Policy interventions with a strong participatory element, which aim to protect natural resources and reduce poverty, have become increasingly popular in developing countries. A setting akin to a natural experiment is exploited to evaluate the extent to which the participatory aspects of Brazil’s Program Bolsa Floresta (PBF) influenced the willingness of community members to cooperate in forest commons. We undertake a common-pool resource game and household survey in Amazonas State to test the hypothesis that increased participation in workshops, which aim to create alternative livelihoods, is associated with higher levels of cooperation. Based on data collected from 160 households in seven communities, preliminary results suggest support for the hypothesis. While the direction of causality remains unclear, we provide tentative evidence that Program Bolsa Floresta is crowding in cooperative behaviour in forest commons.