Exploring the mediational effects of institutional-social-ecological factors on collective action performance: Applying SES theory in gated communities

Abstract

Empirical social-ecological system (SES) research on neighbourhoods’ common property is scarce, especially in unpacking the mediational effects of SES components on residents’ collective action performance. By conceptualizing Ostrom’s SES framework, this paper aims to explore key institutional-social-ecological factors and mediational effects of the interaction variables that influence residents’ collective action performance. To this end, 414 questionnaire data were collected from ten gated communities in Taigu, China. Through the ridge regression model, it is found that nine institutional-social-ecological factors are associated with residents’ collective action performance. Next, based on the identified institutional-social-ecological factors, the bootstrapping approach was utilized to study the mediational effects of the interaction variables. The results show that (i) frequency of communication among residents, (ii) conflict among residents, and (iii) residents’ investment in community management mediate the relationships between the institutional-social-ecological factors and residents’ collective action performance. Lastly, several collective action policies and strategies have been offered.