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Mechanisms of Resource Curse, Economic Policy and Growth

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  • Polterovich, Victor
  • Popov, Vladimir
  • Tonis, Alexander

Abstract

This paper analyzes economic policies in resource rich countries and various mechanisms of resource curse leading to a potentially inefficient use of resources. Arguments are provided in favor of "conditional resource curse" hypothesis: resource abundance hampers growth if institutions of a country are weak. We study the impact of the resource abundance on budget deficit and inflation, foreign exchange reserves and real exchange rate, as well as policies of maintaining low domestic fuel and energy prices. We show that lower domestic fuel prices, that are typical for resource rich countries, have a positive effect on investment in R&D and fixed capital stock, and on long term growth, even though they are associated with losses resulting from higher energy intensity. However, in resource rich countries real exchange rate is generally higher than in other countries. Besides, resource abundance leads to corruption of institutions, especially if these institutions were not strong in the beginning of the period. While there is no solid evidence that, on average, resource abundant countries grow more slowly than the others, there is evidence that they use resources less efficiently, if their institutions are weak.

Suggested Citation

  • Polterovich, Victor & Popov, Vladimir & Tonis, Alexander, 2008. "Mechanisms of Resource Curse, Economic Policy and Growth," MPRA Paper 20570, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:20570
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    Cited by:

    1. Popov, Vladimir, 2024. "Китайская Модель: Ретроспектива И Перспектива [The Chinese model: Retrospective and perspective]," MPRA Paper 121802, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Ofer, Gur, 2010. "Twenty Years Later and the Socialist Heritage is still Kicking: the Case of Russia," WIDER Working Paper Series 059, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Vladimir Popov, 2010. "Development theories and development experience: half a century journey," Working Papers w0153, New Economic School (NES).
    4. Vladimir Popov, 2009. "Why the West Became Rich before China and Why China Has Been Catching Up with the West since 1949: nother Explanation of the “Great Divergence” and “Great Convergence” Stories," Working Papers w0132, New Economic School (NES).
    5. Christian Dreger & Jarko Fidrmuc, 2009. "Drivers of Exchange Rate Dynamics in Selected CIS Countries: Evidence from a FAVAR Analysis," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 867, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. Popov, Vladimir, 2020. "A myth of soft budget constraints in socialist economies," MPRA Paper 99769, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Eregha, Perekunah B. & Mesagan, Ekundayo P., 2020. "Oil resources, deficit financing and per capita GDP growth in selected oil-rich African nations: A dynamic heterogeneous panel approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    8. Vladimir Popov, 2010. "The Long Road to Normalcy: Where Russia Now Stands," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2010-013, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. Ahmadov, Ingilab & Mammadov, Jeyhun & Aslanli, Kenan, 2013. "Assessment of Institutional Quality in Resource-Rich Caspian Basin Countries," MPRA Paper 47430, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Peter Ekundayo Mesagan & Akanni Ismaila Yusuf & Azubuike Isaac Ogbuji, 2019. "Natural resource endowment and output growth: How crucial is deficit financing in managing resource-rich African economies?," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 21(2), pages 353-369, December.
    11. Jeyhun Mammadov & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jeyhun Mammadov & Prof. Dr. Ingilab Ahmadov & PhD candidate, Kenan Aslanli, 2013. "Assessment of Institutional Quality in Resource Rich Caspian Basin Countries," International Conference on Energy, Regional Integration and Socio-economic Development 5994, EcoMod.
    12. Libman, Alexander, 2010. "Subnational resource curse: do economic or political institutions matter?," Frankfurt School - Working Paper Series 154, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
    13. Meissner, Hannes, 2010. "The Resource Curse and Rentier States in the Caspian Region: A Need for Context Analysis," GIGA Working Papers 133, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    14. Eregha, P.B. & Mesagan, Ekundayo Peter, 2016. "Oil resource abundance, institutions and growth: Evidence from oil producing African countries," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 603-619.
    15. Popov, Vladimir, 2010. "The Long Road to Normalcy," WIDER Working Paper Series 013, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    16. Gur Ofer, 2010. "Twenty Years Later and the Socialist Heritage is still Kicking: The Case of Russia," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2010-059, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    17. Vladimir Popov, 2009. "Lessons from the Transition Economies: Putting the Success Stories of the Postcommunist World into a Broader Perspective," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2009-15, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    18. Popov, Vladimir, 2019. "Successes and failures of industrial policy: Lessons from transition (post-communist) economies of Europe and Asia," MPRA Paper 95332, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Ibadoghlu, Gubad & Sadigov, Rashad, 2023. "The economics of petro-authoritarianism: Post-soviet transitions and democratization," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    resource curse; economic growth; quality of institutions; inflation; industrial policy; lower domestic fuel prices; real exchange rate;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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