The most important message of Levin (Ecol Res 21:328–333, 2006) is that “Ecologists and economists have much incentive for
interaction.” Recent studies that account for evolutionary processes and local interactions support this view by obtaining
results that run counter to conventional wisdom within resource economics. A second major message of the article is that to
meet environmental challenges, humanity must develop social norms that enhance cooperative responses. Successful examples
of resource management systems back up norms with economic incentives: rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad.
Economic incentives are especially important if rapid and large changes in human behavior are desired.
Keywords Cooperative resource management - Economic incentives - Social norms - Spatial dynamics - Tragedy of the commons