Skip to main content

The Middle East and North Africa: Cursed by Natural Resources?

  • Chapter
Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

The relationship between natural resource wealth and economic growth has been extensively studied. As opposed to basic intuition, the results of several empirical studies suggest that vast natural capital endowments don’t necessarily generate prosperity, giving rise to the idea that natural resource wealth represents a curse rather than a blessing for economic development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ades, A. and Di Tella, R. (1999). Rents, competition, and corruption. American Economic Review, 89 (4): 982–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akkari, A. (2004). Education in the Middle East and North Africa: The Current situation and future challenges. International Education Journal, 5 (2): 144–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexeev, M. and Conrad, R. (2009). The elusive curse of oil. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 91 (3): 586–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Rawashdeh, R., Al-Nawafleh, H., and Al-Shboul, M. (2013). Understanding oil and mineral resources in a political economy context: the case of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mineral Economics, 26 (1–2): 13–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, J. J. and Aslaksen, S. (2008). Constitutions and the resource curse. Journal of Development Economics, 87 (2): 227–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aoun, M.C. (2013). “Oil and Gas Resources of the Middle East and North Africa: A Curse or Blessing,” in The New Energy Crisis: Climate, Economics and Geopolitics, edited by J. M. Chevalier. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apergis, N. and Payne, J. E. (2014). The oil curse, institutional quality, and growth in MENA countries: Evidence from time-varying cointegration. Energy Economics, 46 (1): 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arezki, R. and Nabli, M. K. (2012). Natural resources, volatility, and inclusive growth: Perspectives from the Middle East and North Africa. IMF Working Paper, No. 111–12. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arezki, R. and van der Ploeg, R. (2007). Can the natural resource curse be turned into a blessing? The role of trade policies and institutions. IMF Working Paper, No. 07–55. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Askari, H. and Jaber, M. (1999). Oil exporting countries of the Persian Gulf: What Happened to all that money? Journal of Energy Finance and Development, 4 (2): 185–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Auty, R. (1994). Industrial policy reform in six newly industrializing countries: The resource curse thesis. World Development, 22 (1): 1165–1171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baggio, J. A. and Papyrakis, E. (2010). Ethnic diversity, property rights, and natural resources. The Developing Economies, 48 (4): 473–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barro, R. (1999). Determinants of Democracy. Journal of Political Economy, 107 (6): S158–S183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, T. and Laeven, L. (2006). Institution building and growth in transition economies. Journal of Economic Growth, 11 (2): 157–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellin, E. (2004). The robustness of authoritarianism in the Middle East: Exceptionalism in comparative perspective. Comparative Politics, 36 (2): 139–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya, S., and Hodler, R. (2010). Natural resources, democracy and corruption. European Economic Review, 54 (4): 608–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya, S. and Collier, P. (2013). Public capital in resource rich economies: is there a curse? Oxford Economic Papers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjorvatn K. and Farzanegan, M. R. (2013). Demographic transition in resource rich countries: A blessing or a curse? World Development, 45 (1): 337–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjorvatn, K., Farzanegan, M. R., and Schneider F. (2012). Resource curse and power balance: Evidence from oil-rich countries. World Development, 40 (1): 1308–1316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanco, L. and Grier, R. (2012). Natural resource dependence and the accumulation of physical and human capital in Latin America. Resources Policy, 37 (3): 281–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bornhorst, F., Gupta, S., and Thornton, J. (2009). Natural resource endowments and the domestic revenue effort. European Journal of Political Economy, 25 (4): 439–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BP. (2014). Statistical Review of World Energy June 2014. Available at: http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html.

  • Bravo-Ortega, C. and De Gregorio, J. (2005). The relative richness of the poor? Natural resources, human capital, and economic growth. Natural Resources, Human Capital, and Economic Growth. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No. 3484. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brunnschweiler, C. N. and Bulte, E. H. (2008). The resource curse revisited and revisited: A tale of paradoxes and red herrings. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 55 (3): 248–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulte, E., Damania, R., and Deacon, R. (2005). Resource intensity, institutions, and development. World Development, 33 (7): 1029–1044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrales, A. and Hauk, E. (2011). The quality of political institutions and the curse of natural resources. The Economic Journal, 121 (551): 58–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caselli, F., and Cunningham, T. (2009). Leader behaviour and the natural resource curse. Oxford Economic Papers, 64 (4): 628–650.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carmignani, F. and Avom, D. (2010). The social development effects of primary commodity export dependence. Ecological Economics, 70 (2): 317–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cockx, L. and Francken, N. (2014). Extending the concept of the resource curse: Natural resources and public spending on health. Ecological Economics, 108 (1): 136–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cockx, L., Francken, N. and Ben Ali, M. S. (2015). Natural resource wealth and public social spending in the Middle East and North Africa. Forthcoming.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier, P. (2006). Is aid oil? An analysis of whether Africa can absorb more aid. World Development 34 (9): 1482–1497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collier, P. and Goderis, B. (2007). Commodity prices, growth, and the natural resource curse: reconciling a conundrum. Centre for the Study of African Economies Working Paper, No. 274. Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier, P. and Hoeffler, A. (2003). Aid, policy, and peace: Reducing the risks of civil conflict. Defense and Peace Economics, 13 (6): 435–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotet, A. M. and Tsui, K. K. (2013). Oil and conflict: What does the cross country evidence really show? American Economic Journal, 5 (1): 49–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, G. A. (2013). Replicating Sachs and Warner’s working papers on the resource curse. Journal of Development Studies, 49 (12): 1615–1630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J., Ossowski, R., Daniel, J., and Barnett, S. (2003) Stabilization and Savings Funds for Nonrenewable Resources. In Fiscal Policy Formulation and Implementation in Oil-Producing Countries, Davis, J., Ossowski, R., Fedelino, O. (Eds).

    Google Scholar 

  • de Soysa, I., and Gizelis, T. I. (2013). The natural resource curse and the spread of HIV/AIDS, 1990–2008. Social Science and Medicine, 77 (1): 90–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding, N. and Field, B. C. (2005). Natural resource abundance and economic growth. Land Economics, 81 (4): 496–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EIA (2011). Market Prices and Uncertainty Report. EIA Publication: Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fum, R. M. and Hodler, R. (2010). Natural resources and income inequality: The role of ethnic divisions. Economics Letters, 107 (3): 360–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goderis, B. and Malone, S. W. (2011). Natural resource booms and inequality: Theory and evidence. The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 113 (2): 388–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gylfason, T., Herbertsson, T. T., and Zoega, G. (1999). A mixed blessing. Macroeconomic Dynamics, 3 (02): 204–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gylfason, T. (2001). Natural resources, education, and economic development. European Economic Review, 45 (4–6): 847–859.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gylfason, T. and Zoega, G. (2002). Inequality and economic growth: do natural resources matter? CESifo Working Paper, 712 (5): 1–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gylfason, T. and Zoega, G. (2006). Natural resources and economic growth: The role of investment. The World Economy, 29 (8): 1091–1115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodler, R. (2006). The curse of natural resources in fractionalized countries. European Economic Review, 50 (6): 1367–1386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, M. and Sandbu, M. (2007). “The Political Economy of Natural Resource Funds,”. in Escaping the Resource Curse, edited by M. Humphreys, J. Sachs, and J. Stiglitz. Columbia University Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hvidt, M. (2013). Economic diversification in GCC countries: past record and future trends. Working Paper, No. 27, Kuwait Program on Development, Governance and Globalisation in the Gulf States. London School of Economics and Political Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isham, J., Woolcock, M., Pritchett, L., and Busby, G. (2005). The varieties of resource experience: natural resource export structures and the political economy of economic growth. World Bank Economic Review, 19 (2): 141–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, N. and Wantchekon, L. (2004). Resource Wealth and Political Regimes in Africa. Comparative Political Studies, 37 (7): 816–841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasekende, E., Abuka, C., and Sarr, M. (2014). Extractive industries and corruption: An investigation into the effectiveness of EITI as a scrutiny mechanism. Working paper for presentation at the Centre for African Economies Conference, UK, March 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolstad, I., and Wiig, A. (2009). Is transparency the key to reducing corruption in resource-rich countries? World Development, 37 (3): 521–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kronenberg, T. (2004). The curse of natural resources in the transition economies. Economics of Transition, 12 (3): 399–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane, P. R. (2003). The cyclical behaviour of fiscal policy: evidence from the OECD. Journal of Public Economics, 87 (12): 2661–2675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lederman, D. and Maloney, W. F. (2003). Trade Structure and Growth. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No. 3025. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Leite, C. and Weidmann, J. (1999). Does Mother Nature Corrupt? Natural Resources, Corruption, and Economic Growth. IMF Working Paper, No. WP/99/85. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuyama, K. (1992). Agricultural productivity, comparative advantage, and economic growth. Journal of Economic Theory, 58 (2): 317–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuirk, E. F. (2013). The illusory leader: Natural resources, taxation and accountability. Public Choice, 154 (3–4): 285–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehlum, H., Moene, K., and Torvik, R. (2006). Institutions and the resource curse. The Economic Journal, 116 (508): 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikesell, R. F. (1997). Explaining the Resource Curse, with Special Reference to Mineral-Exporting Countries. Resources Policy, 23 (4): 191–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, M. (2001). Political underdevelopment: what causes “bad governance?” Public Management Review, 3 (3): 385–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, T. and Young, L. (2009). Saving Ghana from its Oil: the Case for Direct Cash Distribution. Center for Global Development Working Paper, No. 186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumayer, E. (2004). Does the resource curse hold for growth in genuine income as well? World Development, 32 (10): 1627–1640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ă–lcer, D. (2009). Extracting the Maximum from the EITI. OECD Development Centre Working Paper, No. 276. OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Sullivan, A., Rey, M. E., and Mendez, J. G. (2011). Opportunities and challenges in the MENA region. OECD Working Paper, No. 11-2011. OECD, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • OPEC. (2010). World Oil Outlook, 2010. Available at: www.opec.org.

  • OPEC. (2011). World Oil Outlook, 2011. Available at: www.opec.org.

  • Palley, I. (2004) Lifting the natural resource curse. Foreign Service Journal, 80: 54–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papyrakis, E. and Gerlagh, R. (2004). The resource curse hypothesis and its transmission channels. Journal of Comparative Economics, 32 (1): 181–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. A., Torvik, R., and Verdier, T. (2006). Political foundations of the resource curse. Journal of Development Economics, 79 (2): 447–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. L. (2001). Does Oil Hinder Democracy? World Politics, 53 (3): 325–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. L. (2003). “The natural resource curse: How wealth can make you poor.” in Natural Resources and Violent Conflict, edited by P. Collier, and M. Bannon. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. L., Kaiser, K., and Mazaheri, N. (2011). The “Resource Curse” in MENA? Political Transitions, Resource Wealth, Economic Shocks, and Conflict Risk. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No. 5742. World Bank, Washington, DC.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, J. D. and Warner, A. M. (1995). Natural Resource Abundance and Economic Growth. NBER Working Paper, No. 5398. National Bureau of Economic Research.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, J. D. and Warner, A. M. (1997). Sources of Slow Growth in African Economies. Journal of African Economies, 6 (3): 335–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, J. D. and Warner, A. M. (2001). Natural Resources and Economic Development: The Curse of Natural Resources. European Economic Review, 45 (4–6): 827–838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sala-i-Martin, X. and Subramanian, A. (2003). Addressing the Natural Resource Curse: An Illustration from Nigeria. IMF Working Paper, No. WP/03. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sarr, M. and Wick, K. (2010). Resources, conflict and development choices: Public good provision in resource rich economies. Economics of Governance, 11 (2): 183–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savedoff, W. D. (2007). What should a country spend on health care?. Health Affairs, 26 (4): 962–970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao, S. and Yang, L. (2014). Natural resource dependence, human capital accumulation, and economic growth: A combined explanation for the resource curse and the resource blessing. Energy Policy, 74 (1): 632–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, P. (2003). Resource Impact: Curse or a Blessing? A Literature Survey. Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, University of Dundee: Dundee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz, J. (2007). “What Is the Role of the State?,” in Escaping the Resource Curse, eidted by M. Humphreys, J. Sachs, and J. Stiglitz. Columbia University Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stijns, J. P. (2006). Natural resource abundance and human capital accumulation. World Development, 34 (6): 1060–1083.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tansel, A. and Kazemi, A. (2000). Educational expenditure in the Middle East and North Africa. Middle Eastern Studies, 36 (4): 75–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tornell, A. and Lane, P. R. (1999). The voracity effect. American Economic Review, 89 (1): 22–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torvik, R. (2002) Natural resources, rent seeking and welfare. Journal of Development Economics, 67 (2): 455–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsani, S. (2013). Natural resources, governance and institutional quality: The role of resource funds. Resources Policy, 38 (2): 181–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsui, K. K. (2011). More oil, less democracy: Evidence from worldwide crude oil discoveries. The Economic Journal, 121 (551): 89–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Ploeg, F. and Poelhekke, S. (2009) Volatility and the resource curse. Oxford Economic Papers, 61 (4): 727–760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Ploeg, F. and Poelhekke, S. (2011). Natural resources: Curse or blessing? Journal of Economic Literature, 49 (2): 366–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Wijnbergen, S. (1984). The “Dutch disease”: A disease after all. Economic Journal, 94 (373): 41–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinthal, E. and Luong, P. (2006). Combating the Resource Curse: An Alternative Solution to Managing Mineral Wealth. Perspectives on Politics, 4 (1): 35–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2007). Middle East and North Africa Region: 2007 Economic Developments and Prospects. Job Creation in an Era of High Growth. Washington DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2011). The Changing Wealth of Nations: Measuring Sustainable Development in the New Millennium. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2013). Fairness and Accountability: Engaging in Health Systems in the Middle East and North Africa: The World Bank Health Nutrition and Population Sector Strategy for MENA (2013–2018). Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2015). World Development Indicators. Available at: http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Mohamed Sami Ben Ali

Copyright information

© 2016 Mohamed Sami Ben Ali, Lara Cockx and Nathalie Francken

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ben Ali, M.S., Cockx, L., Francken, N. (2016). The Middle East and North Africa: Cursed by Natural Resources?. In: Ben Ali, M.S. (eds) Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137480668_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics