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Natural Resources and Violent Conflict: Resource Abundance, Dependence and the Onset of Civil Wars

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Author Info
Christa N. Brunnschweiler () (CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research at ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
Erwin Bulte () (Development Economics Group, Wageningen University, and Department of Economics, Tilburg University, Netherlands)

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Abstract

In this paper we examine the claim that natural resources invite civil conflict, and challenge the main stylized facts in this literature. We find that the nature of causation between resource dependence and civil war is opposite to conventional wisdom. In particular, (i) civil war creates dependence on primary sector exports, but the reverse is not true, and (ii) resource abundance is associated with a reduced probability of the onset of war. These results are robust to a range of specifications and, considering the conflict channel, we conclude there is no reason to regard resources as a general curse to development.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich in its series Economics working paper series with number 08/78.

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Length: 36 pages
Date of creation: Jan 2008
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:eth:wpswif:08-78

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Related research
Keywords: Civil war; resource abundance; resource dependence; greed versus grievance; resource curse;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
Q34 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Natural Resources and Domestic and International Conflicts
O11 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative
N50 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - General, International, or Comparative

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  1. Hans Gersbach & Volker Hahn, 2008. "Forward Guidance for Monetary Policy: Is It Desirable?," Economics working paper series 08/84, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich. [Downloadable!]
  2. Edward J. Balistreri & Russell H. Hillberry & Thomas F. Rutherford, 2008. "Structural Estimation and Solution of International Trade Models with Heterogeneous Firms," Economics working paper series 08/89, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich. [Downloadable!]
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  3. Ian A. MacKenzie,, 2008. "On the Sequential Choice of Tradable Permit Allocations," Economics working paper series 08/83, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich. [Downloadable!]
  4. Jose Cuesta & Mansoob Murshed, 2008. "The Micro-foundations of Social Contracts, Civil Conflicts and International Peace-Making Abstract: This paper explores the micro-foundations of conflict generation and persistence within the traditio," Research Working Papers 8, MICROCON - A Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict. [Downloadable!]
  5. Hans Gersbach & Maik T. Schneider & Olivier Schneller, 2008. "On the Design of Basic-Research Policy," Economics working paper series 08/79, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich. [Downloadable!]
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