Economic diversification in resource rich countries: history, state of knowledge and research agenda

Is economic diversi?cation desirable for a resource rich country? Our knowledge on this issue is at best partial. This paper revisits the literature on diversi?cation in resource rich states. It maps the history of diversi?cation, identi?es gaps in the literature and documents some trends in the data. In particular, it exposes limitations in the data and catalogues trends in non-oil exports and non-oil private sector employment. It concludes with an agenda for research.