The following excerpt is from Michael A. McPherson and Michael L. Nieswiadomy, "African Elephants: The Effects of Property Rights and Political Stability," Contemporary Economic Policy 18 no. 1 (2007)
African elephant populations have declined by more than 50% over the past 20 years. Intemational outrage over the slaughter led to a worldwide ban on ivory sales beginning in 1989, despite the objections of many economists and scientists, and of several southem African countries that have established systems of property rights over elephants. Far from declining, elephant populations in many of these countries have increased to levels at or above the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. This article estimates the determinants of changes in elephant populations in 35 African countries over several time periods. The authors find that, controlling for other factors, countries with property rights systems or community wildlife programs have more rapid elephant population growth rates than do those countries that do not. Political instability and the absence of representative govemments significantly lower elephant growth rates.
Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences.
a) How is maintaining a healthy level of the African elephant population similar to management of a common pool resource?
b) The authors argue that property rights have been able to achieve what goal?
c) Even if property rights are established in a country, why would the absence of representative governments significantly lower elephant growth rates?
d) The poaching of African elephants for their tusks is a serious problem facing many African nations One solution is to establish Iarge fenced-in "parks," where elephants are ranched similar to beef cattle on ranches in the western United States. How could maintaining elephant herds in large enclosed park-like areas solve the free-rider problem?