Polycentric governance in waste management: A mechanism analysis of actors' behavior evolution at the community level

Polycentric waste governance (PWG) is novel approach to handling the increasing waste by embracing broader stakeholders, compared to isolated public service. This paper sought to unpack the strategic coevolution mechanism of PWG's main stakeholders at community level by evolutionary game theory. Our findings high-lighted that Recycler ultimately chooses active participation while Community and Householder are on the fence. In addition, the transmission effect existed in the interplays among three agents. Our modeling analysis also echoed the tragedy of the commons and market failure in the theoretical landscape of PWG. Thus, the countermeasures, including community engagement, public perception, innovative Government-Market cooperation mode, etc., deserved attention. Uncovering the 'black box' of the PWG model, an enhanced un-derstanding of governance actors' strategic evolution mechanism for improving the PWG theory is obtained thus far. The research findings would expect to enlighten the practice of PWG in reality, thereby mitigating the dilemma of waste siege.

Automated summary

This paper reveals the strategic coevolution mechanism of polycentric waste governance's main stakeholders at the community level through evolutionary game theory. The study shows that the recycler ultimately chooses active participation, while the community and householders are hesitant. Transmission effects exist in the interactions among the three agents. The modeling analysis echoes the tragedy of the commons and market failure in the theoretical landscape of polycentric waste governance. Countermeasures such as community engagement, public perception, and innovative government-market cooperation mode deserve attention. By uncovering the 'black box' of the polycentric waste governance model, a better understanding of the strategic evolution mechanism of governance actors for improving the theory is obtained. The research findings are expected to enlighten the practice of polycentric waste governance and mitigate the dilemma of waste siege.