Gold mining and proto-urbanization: recent evidence from Ghana

Marcel Fafchamps, Michael Rene Koelle and Forhad Shilpi

No 7347, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Central place theory predicts that agglomeration can arise from external shocks. This paper investigates whether gold mining is a catalyst for proto-urbanization in rural Ghana. Using cross-sectional data, the analysis finds that locations within 10 kilometers from gold mines have more night light and proportionally higher employment in industry and services and in the wage sector. Non-farm employment decreases at 20?30 kilometers distance to gold mines. These findings are consistent with agglomeration effects that induce non-farm activities to coalesce in one particular location. This paper finds that, over time, an increase in gold production is associated with more wage employment and apprenticeship, and fewer people employed in private informal enterprises. It also finds that the changes arising from increasing gold production are not reversed when large gold mines shrink. However this pattern cannot be ascribed unambiguously to agglomeration effects, given an increase in informal mining after formal mines decrease output is also observed.

Keywords: Labor Markets; Transport Economics Policy&Planning; Population Policies; Mining&Extractive Industry (Non-Energy); Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-06-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-env, nep-geo and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Journal Article: Gold mining and proto-urbanization: recent evidence from Ghana (2017)
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