A Study of the Social - economic factors affecting the collective management of water resources in Fereidoonkenar's rural

The paddy cultivation in Iran is primarily practiced by drowned method. In this method during the period of cultivation needs much water. River and rain water supply in farming season is not enough to fulfill the needs of the farming. Thus water shortage necessitates thus farmer has predict and take actions on management of existing resources and storage of waters. One of these methods in the northern provinces of Iran is keeping water in pools (Abbandans). there is nearly 17000 hectares pools in Mazandran. Each pool generally belongs to a particular village, but their property rights are undetermined and complicated. Therefore, different government organizations and interest groups of villagers claim the ownership or management of these resources. Beginning of the decade of 1370s in most villages, in the context of public policy for fishing the sources were rented to persons. Thus the main function of these sources, i.e. cultivation waters despite the importance of its role in paddy cultivation was ignored. In this study we using different branches of rational choice theory, such as game theory, collective action and sociological approach of game theory and attempts to explain the social, economic factors influences to manage this resource and the actions of individuals and social groups in this process. Our study showed that government intervention has diminished the influences of internal social - economic factors, minimized the level of action and weakened the collective action.