The Oil Curse: How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations

The Oil Curse: How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations
Michael L. Ross. Princeton University Press. 19 Aug, 2013

Oil-Curse-Petroleum-WealthCountries that are rich in petroleum have less democracy, less economic stability, and more frequent civil wars than countries without oil. What explains this oil curse? And can it be fixed? In this groundbreaking analysis, Michael L. Ross looks at how developing nations are shaped by their mineral wealth–and how they can turn oil from a curse into a blessing.

Ross traces the oil curse to the upheaval of the 1970s, when oil prices soared and governments across the developing world seized control of their countries’ oil industries. Before nationalization, the oil-rich countries looked much like the rest of the world; today, they are 50 percent more likely to be ruled by autocrats–and twice as likely to descend into civil war–than countries without oil.

The Oil Curse shows why oil wealth typically creates less economic growth than it should; why it produces jobs for men but not women; and why it creates more problems in poor states than in rich ones. It also warns that the global thirst for petroleum is causing companies to drill in increasingly poor nations, which could further spread the oil curse.

This landmark book explains why good geology often leads to bad governance, and how this can be changed. Synopsis

Book Review:

The paradoxical idea that oil is a curse for economic prosperity has become increasingly influential in the last three decades. Advocates of this idea claim that oil weakens political institutions, harms private sector promotion, increases economic volatility, hinders industrialisation, and fuels civil wars. However, recently, the ‘oil curse’ literature has been undergoing a process of ‘creative destruction’- whereby new ideas are replacing old ones- thanks to the falsification of some theories and emerging methodological criticism. Michael Ross’s recent book The Oil Curse, fits into this revisionist trend. Ramin Nassehi, a PhD candidate in Business Management at Queen Mary, University of London. Review

News & Resources

UAE plots behind Egypt coup:
August 18, 2013

The Abu Dhabi regime, United Arab Emirates, is one of the major sponsors of ‘Egyptian coup d’état’. Western diplomats here said they believed the Emiratis were privately urging the Egyptian security forces to crack down the supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi, that killed hundreds of people, when authorities forcibly broke up protest camps. http://www.judgmentforsale.com/blog/uae-plots-behind-egyptian-coup-detat/

‘Indo-Gulf reparation mechanisms’ a concise summary of representation
02 March, 2013

Strategy Formulation and Implementation of a Mutual Human Rights Law and Reparation Mechanisms Between the Government of India and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, mandating our elected representatives and officials to eliminate discrimination and imbalances of Non-resident Indians (NRIs) working in different countries. This also involves the recognition and protection of the dignity and respect of individuals … A concise summary of representation http://www.reparationlaw.com/news/indo-gulf-reparation-mechanisms-a-concise-summary-of-representation/

Leave A Response

You must be logged in to post a comment.