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Mission improbable: Does petroleum-related aid address the resource curse?

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  • Kolstad, Ivar
  • Wiig, Arne
  • Williams, Aled

Abstract

Petroleum-related aid programmes and projects are a key part of donor activities in oil-rich developing countries. This paper critically assesses petroleum-related aid activities, using the Norwegian Oil for Development programme as a main case. Recent research suggests that institutions, or governance, are essential in averting a resource curse. While governance issues are beginning to receive more attention in these types of programmes, they still form a minor part of programme activities. The narrow sector focus that characterizes petroleum-related aid makes it unlikely that it will produce the higher order institutional changes needed to lift the resource curse. Petroleum-related aid activities address the issue of corruption only to a limited extent. Given the commercial and political interests of donor countries, questions about the integrity and credibility of these types of programmes can be raised.

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  • Kolstad, Ivar & Wiig, Arne & Williams, Aled, 2009. "Mission improbable: Does petroleum-related aid address the resource curse?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 954-965, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:37:y:2009:i:3:p:954-965
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    Cited by:

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    5. Liliane C. Mouan, 2010. "Exploring the potential benefits of Asian participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative: The case of China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(6), pages 367-376, September.
    6. Al-Kasim, Farouk & Søreide, Tina & Williams, Aled, 2013. "Corruption and reduced oil production: An additional resource curse factor?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 137-147.
    7. Baena, César & Sévi, Benoît & Warrack, Allan, 2012. "Funds from non-renewable energy resources: Policy lessons from Alaska and Alberta," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 569-577.
    8. Fontaine, Guillaume, 2011. "The effects of governance modes on the energy matrix of Andean countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 2888-2898, May.
    9. Belal, Ataur Rahman & Cooper, Stuart M. & Roberts, Robin W., 2013. "Vulnerable and exploitable: The need for organisational accountability and transparency in emerging and less developed economies," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 81-91.

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