The political economy of growth collapses in mineral economies.

Auty, Richard M. (2004) The political economy of growth collapses in mineral economies. Minerals and Energy - Raw Materials Report, 19 (4). pp. 3-15. ISSN 1651-2286

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Abstract

Rents form a relatively high share of GDP in developing countries (from 15-50%), so that differences in the scale of the rent and in its distribution among economic agents profoundly affect the evolution of the political economy. This paper deploys two rent-driven political economy models to analyse the performance of four oil-exporting countries (Angola, Venezuela, Indonesia and Algeria). The low-rent model provides a counter-factual for the high-rent model, which typifies most oil-exporters. The low-rent model sustains rapid per capita GDP (PCGDP) growth that brings endogenous democratisation, which is incremental. In contrast, high-rent countries tend to deploy the rent in ways that lock the economy into a staple trap, which aborts competitive economic diversification and represses sanctions against anti-social governance. These adverse staple trap features are heightened in oil-exporting countries because they tend to have very high natural resource rent, which is easily extracted by governments. However, a growth collapse may abruptly trigger political and economic reform if exogenous factors are favourable. This paper applies the models to explain the disappointing oil-driven development in Angola and Venezuela, and also the apparent anomaly of Indonesian development during 1966-96. It concludes by outlining with reference to Algeria a dual track strategy to circumvent the political obstacles that prevent reform in a rent-distorted political economy.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Minerals and Energy - Raw Materials Report
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/g1
Subjects:
?? OIL RENTECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTDEMOCRACYECONOMIC GEOLOGYGEOGRAPHY, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTG GEOGRAPHY (GENERAL) ??
ID Code:
9361
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
05 Jun 2008 12:18
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
20 Sep 2023 00:11