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Curses, Diseases and Other Resource Confusions

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  • Alfredo Saad-Filho
  • John Weeks

Abstract

Natural resource rents, development assistance and unrequited foreign exchange inflows such as remittances relax the balance of payments constraint on economic growth. The failure of some governments to translate these resources into successful development has been attributed to an affliction called ‘Dutch disease’, or, more ominously, to a ‘curse’ associated with the availability of natural resources. This paper examines the disease/curse analysis and rejects it in favour of a political economy explanation of the problems associated with resource use. We argue that conventional analysis of resource-rich countries is misleading because its various manifestations are based on inappropriate assumptions and flawed logic. In practice the ‘curse’ and the ‘disease’ are outcomes of policy decisions, rather than manifestations of deep structural weaknesses, and they are more likely to be suffered in countries whose governments pursue neoliberal economic policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Alfredo Saad-Filho & John Weeks, 2013. "Curses, Diseases and Other Resource Confusions," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 1-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:34:y:2013:i:1:p:1-21
    DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2012.755010
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    Cited by:

    1. Harris, Nicholas, 2024. "Does the case of the Chilean nitrate boom support activist or deterministic interpretations of the ‘resource curse’?," Economic History Working Papers 126154, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    2. Keston K. Perry, 2018. "The Dynamics of Industrial Development in a Resource-Rich Developing Society: A Political Economy Analysis," Journal of Developing Societies, , vol. 34(3), pages 264-296, September.
    3. Ibrahim Ayoade Adekunle & Tolulope Oyakhilome Williams & Olatunde Julius Omokanmi & Serifat Olukorede Onayemi, 2020. "The Mediating Role Of Institutions In The Remittance–Growth Relationship: Evidence From Nigeria," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 65(227), pages 7-30, October –.
    4. Sara Busilacchi & James R. A. Butler & Ingrid Van Putten & Yiheyis Maru & Joseph Posu, 2018. "Asymmetrical Development across Transboundary Regions: The Case of the Torres Strait Treaty Region (Australia and Papua New Guinea)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Ovadia, Jesse Salah, 2016. "Local content policies and petro-development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A comparative analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 20-30.
    6. Barrak Ghanim Algharabali & Saud Asaad Al-Thaqeb, 2023. "The Natural Resource Curse: Is It Really a Curse?," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(4), pages 237-245, July.
    7. Maria Eugenia Giraudo & Jean Grugel, 2022. "Imaginaries of Soy and the Costs of Commodity‐led Development: Reflections from Argentina," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(4), pages 796-826, July.
    8. Pedro Mendes Loureiro, 2016. "Reformism, Class Conciliation And The Pink Tide: Prospects For The Working Classes Under Left-Of-Centre Governments In Latin America," Anais do XLIII Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 43rd Brazilian Economics Meeting] 020, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pós-Graduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics].

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