Scales for scales

Fisheries are among the most complex and tightly coupled social-ecological systems. This thesis develops new perspectives on the spatial features of fisheries, and on common pool resources in general. The central model of the work is the Distributed Commons, a commons spread across space with local and cross-boundary interactions. The model is founded in evidence from historical analysis and complexity theory, and offers insights for management and broader sustainable development policy. The second part of the thesis uses empirical analysis, applying Bayesian and econometric techniques, to study the spatial features exposed by the model. Finally, a computational model is calibrated for exploring the consequences of this theory through experiments. The implications of the Distributed Commons model are relevant to many areas of sustainable development, including atmospheric pollution, environmental degradation, and the use of ecosystem resources.