Elinor Claire "Lin" Ostrom was an American political scientist and political economist whose work was associated with New Institutional Economics and the resurgence of political economy. In 2009, she was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for her "analysis of economic governance, especially the commons", which she shared with Oliver E. Williamson; she was the first woman to win the prize. The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2009, announced October 12, 2009. Elinor Ostrom (1/2), “for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons”. Oliver E. Williamson (1/2), “for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm”. Elinor Ostrom: born 1933, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Oliver E. Williamson: born 1932, Superior, WI, USA. Wiki link Wiki link Data: the Nobel Foundation (CC0).