Origins & Early Life

Elinor Claire "Lin" Ostrom (née Awan; August 7, 1933 – June 12, 2012) was an American political scientist and political economist whose work was associated with New Institutional Economics and the resurgence of political economy. In 2009, she was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for her "analysis of economic governance, especially the commons", which she shared with Oliver E. Williamson; she was the first woman to win the prize. Trained in political science at UCLA, Ostrom was a faculty member at Indiana University Bloomington for 47 years.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Beginning in the 1960s, Ostrom was involved in resource management policy and created a research center, the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, which attracted scientists from different disciplines from around the world. Working and teaching at her center was created on the principle of a workshop, rather than a university with lectures and a strict hierarchy. Late in her career, she held an affiliation with Arizona State University. Ostrom studied the interaction of people and ecosystems for many years and showed that the use of exhaustible resources by groups of people (communities, cooperatives, trusts, trade...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 13th Dalai Lama — Contemporary (Died in 1933) (1933): Spiritual leader of Tibet who championed national independence and modernization.
• Adolph Caesar — Contemporary (Born in 1933) (1933): Acclaimed American actor known for his deep voice and Off-Broadway staple status.
• Akihito — Contemporary (Born in 1933) (1933): 125th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the Heisei era (1989-2019).
• Adam Yauch — Contemporary (Died in 2012) (2012): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• Alfred F. Young — Contemporary (Died in 2012) (2012): Pioneering American historian of the Revolution and working-class social history.
• Blue Ivy Carter — Contemporary (Born in 2012) (2012): American singer, actress, and dancer, daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
• Abanindranath Tagore — Shared historical date (08-07 · Born) (1871): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Constantius II — Shared historical date (08-07 · Born) (317): Roman Emperor whose reign was marked by border wars and religious strife.
• Al-Zamakhshari — Shared historical date (06-12 · Died) (1144): Pioneering scholar of Quranic exegesis, linguistics, and theology.
• Anne Frank — Shared historical date (06-12 · Born) (1929): German-born diarist whose secret writings documented life in hiding during the Holocaust.
• 1933 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1933
• August 7 (08-07) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 7
• 2012 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2012
• June 12 (06-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 12