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Resource Abundance, Poverty and Development

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  • Bulte, Erwin H.
  • Damania, Richard
  • Deacon, Robert T.

Abstract

The negative correlation between resource endowments and GDP growth remains one of the most robust findings in the empirical growth literature, and has been coined the "resource curse hypothesis". The policy consequences of this result are potentially far reaching. If natural resources are an inescapable curse, this may imply that countries richly endowed with natural resources can only develop by turning their backs on their comparative advantage and diversifying into other non-resource based activities. This paper analyzes whether the negative statistical relationship between natural resource abundance and economic growth spills over to other important economic and social indicators. The impact of resource wealth on several proxies of economic underdevelopment and welfare are scrutinized. While underdevelopment and welfare are clearly not independent of economic growth, it is known that there exist important differences between these variables. The research presented in this paper represents a step forward in the understanding of the resource curse, and the channels through which it is manifested.

Suggested Citation

  • Bulte, Erwin H. & Damania, Richard & Deacon, Robert T., 2004. "Resource Abundance, Poverty and Development," ESA Working Papers 23803, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:faoaes:23803
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.23803
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Lubna Hasan, 2007. "Myths and Realities of Long-run Development: A Look at Deeper Determinants," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 46(1), pages 19-44.
    3. Andersen, Jørgen Juel & Aslaksen, Silje, 2008. "Constitutions and the resource curse," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 227-246, October.
    4. Katharina Wick & Erwin Bulte, 2006. "Contesting resources – rent seeking, conflict and the natural resource curse," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 128(3), pages 457-476, September.
    5. Angelo Antoci & Paolo Russu & Elisa Ticci, 2008. "Structural Change, Environment and Well-being: Interactions Between Production and Consumption Choices of the Rich and the Poor in Developing Countries," Working Papers 2008.48, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    6. Polterovich, Victor & Popov, Vladimir & Tonis, Alexander, 2007. "Экономическая Политика, Качество Институтов И Механизмы "Ресурсного Проклятия" [Economic Policy, Quality of Institutions, and Mechanisms of Resource Curse]," MPRA Paper 22454, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Stevens, Paul & Dietsche, Evelyn, 2008. "Resource curse: An analysis of causes, experiences and possible ways forward," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 56-65, January.
    8. Yacine Belarbi & Lylia Sami & Said Souam, 2015. "Effects of Institutions and Natural Resources in a Multiple Growth Regime," Working Papers 905, Economic Research Forum, revised Apr 2015.
    9. Polterovich, Victor & Popov, Vladimir & Tonis, Alexander, 2008. "Mechanisms of Resource Curse, Economic Policy and Growth," MPRA Paper 20570, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Chala Amante Abate & Dagim Tadesse Bekele & Belisty Bekalu Ayenew & Adisu Abebaw Degu, 2023. "The Relationship Between Natural Resource Rent and Economic Growth in Nigeria," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 13(4), pages 3-25.
    11. Ogunleye, Eric Kehinde, 2008. "Natural resource abundance in Nigeria: From dependence to development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 168-174, September.
    12. Naima Sadaoui & Lotfi Zabat & Habib Sekrafi & Mehdi Abid, 2024. "The moderating role of natural resources between governance and CO2 emissions: Evidence from MENA countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(3), pages 1597-1615, May.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q2 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q3 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries

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