Natural Resource-Based Economic Development in History

Edward B. Barbier ()

World Economics, 2005, vol. 6, issue 3, pages 103-152

Abstract: The role of natural resources in fostering economic development is examined for key historical epochs, from the agricultural revolution in 8,000 BC to the present. Natural resource exploitation has been important to development for most of global history. Depending on which epoch is examined, resource-based development could be viewed as “successful†and sometimes not. Simply because a developing economy or region was endowed with abundant natural resources does not guarantee that its natural wealth is exploited efficiently and generates productive investments. Institutional factors also matter, and environmental conditions may also determine whether or not countries develop “good†institutions.

Date: 2005

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.world-economics-journal.com/Contents/ArticleOverview.aspx?ID=218 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wej:wldecn:218

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in World Economics from World Economics, Economic & Financial Publishing, PO Box 69, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, RG9 1GB
Series data maintained by Ed Jones ().