A US academic has become the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in economics. Elinor Ostrom of the University of Indiana was named co-winner of the prize Monday for her research into how communities can self-organize without state or corporate management.

Elinor Ostrom: “I’m not denigrating that officials can do something very positive, but what we have ignored is what citizens can do and the importance of real involvement of the people involved, as opposed to just having somebody in Washington or at a far, far distance make a rule. How does that get all the way down to management of forests, fisheries, irrigation systems, etc.? So we have to look ground up.”

Ostrom also celebrated her distinction as the first woman to win the Nobel economics prize.

Elinor Ostrom: “We’re entering a new — we’ve already entered a new era, and we recognize that women have the capabilities of doing great scientific work. And yes, I appreciate that this is an honor to be the first woman, but I won’t be the last.”