Elinor Ostrom was an American political economist and Nobel laureate known for her groundbreaking research on common pool resources and collective action. She examined how communities around the world successfully manage and govern common resources, such as forests, fisheries, and irrigation systems, without resorting to privatization or government intervention. Ostrom's work challenged the conventional wisdom that common resources are inevitably subject to overuse and degradation, demonstrating that communities can develop sustainable and effective governance systems through cooperation and collective decision-making. Her research has had a significant impact on the fields of economics, political science, and environmental studies.