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Why is there a large-scale mining ‘bias’ in sub-Saharan Africa?

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  • Hilson, Gavin

Abstract

This paper reflects critically on the state of mining sector-led development in sub-Saharan Africa. It argues that in most countries in the region, policies are ‘biased’ in favour of large-scale extraction. World Bank officials have long maintained that, in sub-Saharan Africa, the large-scale mines financed and operated by foreign multinationals could become ‘growth poles’ which stimulate marked economic development. For this to happen, however, radically different policy approaches will be needed − changes which, up until now, the region’s governments have shown little interest in making.

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  • Hilson, Gavin, 2019. "Why is there a large-scale mining ‘bias’ in sub-Saharan Africa?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 852-861.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:81:y:2019:i:c:p:852-861
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.02.013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Sauerwein, Titus, 2020. "Gold mining and development in Côte d’Ivoire: Trajectories, opportunities and oversights," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Baffour-Kyei, Vasco & Mensah, Amos & Owusu, Victor & Horlu, Godwin S.A.K., 2021. "Artisanal small-scale mining and livelihood assets in rural southern Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    7. Poignant, Adrian, 2023. "Small-scale mining and agriculture: Evidence from northwestern Tanzania," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
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    9. Hook, Andrew, 2019. "The multidimensionality of exclusion in the small-scale gold mining sector in Guyana: Institutional reform, landlordism, and mineral uncertainty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Hilson, Gavin & Mondlane, Salvador & Hilson, Abigail & Arnall, Alex & Laing, Tim, 2021. "Formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining in Mozambique: Concerns, priorities and challenges," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    11. Hilson, Gavin, 2020. "The ‘Zambia Model’: A blueprint for formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining in sub-Saharan Africa?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    12. Railh Gugus Tresor Massonini Ngoma & Cety Gessica Abraham Mahanga Tsoni & Xiangrui Meng & Sumaiya Bashiru Danwana, 2023. "The Impact of the Mining Equipment, Technological Trends, and Natural Resource Demand on Climate Change in Congo," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-28, January.
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    14. Leonard, Llewellyn, 2019. "Traditional leadership, community participation and mining development in South Africa: The case of Fuleni, Saint Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 290-298.
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    16. Holley, Elizabeth A. & Smith, Nicole M. & Delgado Jimenez, Jeison Alejandro & Cabezas, Isabel Casasbuenas & Restrepo-Baena, Oscar Jaime, 2020. "Socio-technical context of the interactions between large-scale and small-scale mining in Marmato, Colombia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    17. Hilson, Gavin & Maconachie, Roy, 2020. "For the Environment: An Assessment of Recent Military Intervention in Informal Gold Mining Communities in Ghana," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    18. Deberdt, Raphael, 2022. "Land access rights in minerals’ responsible sourcing. The case of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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