This paper focuses on the fairness problem in the commons, which arises when commoners choose to assign exclusive use rights in the commons so as to address open access problem. Since each commoner is granted co-equal right to the commons, each claims co-equal receipt of assignment. Yet despite this, commons is generally heterogeneous in terms of both space and time. Fairness problem then arises as to how to assign co-equal use right over heterogeneous goods. Focusing on the way how this problem is settled, the paper analyzes representative patterns of use right assignment found especially in irrigation and fisheries commons.
