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Exploiting Energy and Mineral Resources in Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Mongolia

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  • Richard Pomfret

    (School of Economics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
    The Johns Hopkins University, via Belmeloro 11, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

Formerly centrally planned countries may be especially vulnerable to institutional degradation and revenue volatility as sources of a resource curse. This paper examines these issues through case studies of six former Soviet republics and Mongolia, focussing on the methods of involving foreign partners in exploration and exploitation of natural resources. Kazakhstan in the 1990s was a prime example of rent-seeking institutional degradation, but an exceptionally positive conjuncture in the 2000s triggered institutional and policy evolution, while Uzbekistan had less resource-rent-driven institutional degradation in the 1990s, but stagnated in the 2000s. Turkmenistan and Mongolia highlight the missed opportunities from not involving foreign partners, while Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic illustrate the less predictable outcomes following quick deals with foreign investors. Institutions matter, but the case studies suggest more complex relationships than revealed by simple correlations between indicators of institutional quality or of ownership patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Pomfret, 2011. "Exploiting Energy and Mineral Resources in Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Mongolia," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 53(1), pages 5-33, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:compes:v:53:y:2011:i:1:p:5-33
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    1. Richard Pomfret, 2018. "Exploiting a natural resource in a poor country: The good, the bad and the ugly sides of the Kyrgyz Republic’s gold mine," Working Papers 372, Leibniz Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung (Institute for East and Southeast European Studies).
    2. Karen, Smith Stegen, 2011. "Deconstructing the "energy weapon": Russia's threat to Europe as case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 6505-6513, October.
    3. Pomfret, Richard, 2012. "Resource management and transition in Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Mongolia," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 146-156.
    4. Chingunjav Amarsanaa & Yoshinori Kurokawa, 2021. "The Extensive Margin of International Trade in a Transition Economy: The Case of Mongolia," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 63(4), pages 648-673, December.
    5. Aliya Aktymbayeva & Arailym Orazgaliyeva & Aizhan Omarova & Anvar Tulaganov & Aigul Akhmetova & Yuliya Tyurina & Marija Troyanskaya, 2021. "The Central Asian Economies of Water-energy security: The Future Role of Hydro and Fuel-based Systems," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(1), pages 417-425.
    6. Annageldy Arazmuradov, 2012. "Foreign Aid, Foreign Direct Investment, and Domestic Investment Nexus in Landlocked Economies of Central Asia," Economic Research Guardian, Mutascu Publishing, vol. 2(1), pages 129-151, May.
    7. Arman Mazhikeyev & T.Huw Edwards & Marian Rizov, 2014. "Openness and Isolation: the comparative trade performance of the Former Soviet Central Asian countries," Discussion Paper Series 2014_02, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Feb 2014.
    8. Horváth, Roman & Zeynalov, Ayaz, 2016. "Natural resources, manufacturing and institutions in post-Soviet countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 141-148.
    9. Christopher A. Hartwell & Roman Horvath & Eva Horvathova & Olga Popova, 2019. "Democratic Institutions, Natural Resources, and Income Inequality," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 61(4), pages 531-550, December.
    10. Sarvar Gurbanov & Jeffrey B. Nugent & Jeyhun Mikayilov, 2017. "Management of Oil Revenues: Has That of Azerbaijan Been Prudent?," Economies, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Colin O’Reilly & Ryan H. Murphy, 2017. "Exogenous Resource Shocks and Economic Freedom," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 59(3), pages 243-260, September.
    12. Ganbold, Misheelt & Ali, Saleem H., 2017. "The peril and promise of resource nationalism: A case analysis of Mongolia's mining development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1-11.
    13. Mazhikeyev, Arman & Edwards, T. Huw & Rizov, Marian, 2015. "Openness and isolation: The trade performance of the former Soviet Central Asian countries," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 935-947.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q32 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Exhaustible Resources and Economic Development
    • P35 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Public Finance
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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