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Natural resources and conflict in Africa: what do the data show?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 17:50 authored by Sambit BhattacharyyaSambit Bhattacharyya, Nemera MamoThe empirical relationship between natural resources and conflict in Africa is not very well understood. Using a novel geocoded dataset we are able to construct a quasi-natural experiment to explore the causal effects of oilfield and mineral discoveries on intra-state armed conflict in Africa at the grid-cell level corresponding to a spatial resolution of 0.5 x 0.5 degrees latitude and longitude. We find no evidence of resource discoveries triggering conflict after controlling for property rights institutions, past discoveries, grid-cell and year fixed effects, grid-cell specific trends, and country-year fixed effects. Resource discoveries are associated with improved local living standards and increased political patronage both of which reduce conflict. We observe little or no heterogeneity in the relationship across resource types, discovery size, distance to discovery and borders, and institutions. The relationship remains unchanged at higher grid-cell resolution, and regional and national levels.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Economic Development and Cultural ChangeISSN
0013-0079Publisher
University of Chicago PressExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
69Page range
903-950Department affiliated with
- Economics Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2019-05-17First Open Access (FOA) Date
2020-05-16First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2019-05-16Usage metrics
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