Social norms regarding the pasture utilization of Mongolian herders

Abstract

Social norms regarding grassland utilization are important for the sustainable development of pastoralism. This study aims to identify the socioeconomic conditions for the formation of the social norms by comparing those in several different areas in Mongolia. The results show that norms are more likely to be formed in areas with higher population density while less likely to be formed in areas with better access to urban markets. It suggests that active policy interventions are needed to form the social norms under the rapid development of a market economy.