Measuring institutional integration in the (greening) European golf

Working paper 3

Morand Frédéric, 2006; Measuring institutional integration in the (greening) European golf (WP3);  IDARI Working Paper,  Eco Innovation / Humboldt University of Berlin - RTD project QLRT-2002-02718, (www.eco-innovation.net/measuring-institutional); Galway, Ireland, 22 p.

(under revision, available upon request)

Policy and public opinion force the European golf sector to undergo a 'green turn'. Yet, policy rules appear mostly 'negative', i.e. to consist mostly in a restriction of technological options, through the gradual ban of pesticides commonly used in golf. Environmental guidelines and accreditation for golf are still in their infancy, and knowledge available on solutions alternative to banned pesticides remains scarce. I intend to examine whether the lack of 'positive' policy rules hampers the development of environmental guidelines for golf. This paper lays out preliminary methodological steps for applying empirically an institutional framework borrowed from Thévenot. This framework is chosen for its capacity to investigate collective rules (i.e., formal institutions) and personal behaviour (i.e., informal institutions) in an integrated fashion. I sum up what data are needed to inform each type of institutional category to be investigated. I give indications as to how they can be collected in the case of the golf sector. I outline the model used to assess institutional integration.

Keywords: Conventions; Golf course management; Governance levels; Institutional change; Integrated management; Learning.

(this approach is continued in the programme area Greener golf)