Born with a silver spoon but raised as a beggar: Fresh empirical investigations into the resource curse thesis in Africa

IF 10.2 2区经济学 0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Resources Policy Pub Date : 2025-02-24 DOI:10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105522

Elvis Dze Achuo , Aloysius Mom Njong , Clovis Wendji Miamo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Although African countries are richly blessed with several types of natural resources, Africa's development trajectory over the years has remained derisory. Consequently, this study empirically probed into the direct and indirect effects of natural resources on sustainable development. The empirical investigations covering the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development were conducted using the System Generalised Method of Moments approach for a panel of 44 African economies from 1996 to 2022. The results reveal that natural resources adversely contribute to economic development while fostering social development and environmental sustainability. Besides, the negative contribution of natural resources to economic development is higher among resource-rich countries compared to resource-scarce countries, thereby showing evidence of the resource curse thesis in Africa. However, the resource bless thesis is apparent with regard to the contribution of natural resources to social development and environmental sustainability. Moreover, the effects of natural resources on sustainable development are divergent for different types of natural resources. Furthermore, the interactive regressions reveal the critical role of good governance in modulating the negative impact of resource rents on sustainable development, as evidenced by the established positive net effects and threshold values. Practical policy implications emanating from the findings are discussed.

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来源期刊

Resources Policy ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-

CiteScore

13.40

自引率

23.50%

发文量

602

审稿时长

69 days

期刊介绍： Resources Policy is an international journal focused on the economics and policy aspects of mineral and fossil fuel extraction, production, and utilization. It targets individuals in academia, government, and industry. The journal seeks original research submissions analyzing public policy, economics, social science, geography, and finance in the fields of mining, non-fuel minerals, energy minerals, fossil fuels, and metals. Mineral economics topics covered include mineral market analysis, price analysis, project evaluation, mining and sustainable development, mineral resource rents, resource curse, mineral wealth and corruption, mineral taxation and regulation, strategic minerals and their supply, and the impact of mineral development on local communities and indigenous populations. The journal specifically excludes papers with agriculture, forestry, or fisheries as their primary focus.