This Mine Is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa

Nicolas Berman (), Mathieu Couttenier, Dominic Rohner and Mathias Thoenig

American Economic Review, 2017, vol. 107, issue 6, 1564-1610

Abstract: We combine georeferenced data on mining extraction of 14 minerals with information on conflict events at spatial resolution of 0.5 degree x 0.5 degree for all of Africa between 1997 and 2010. Exploiting exogenous variations in world prices, we find a positive impact of mining on conflict at the local level. Quantitatively, our estimates suggest that the historical rise in mineral prices (commodity super-cycle) might explain up to one-fourth of the average level of violence across African countries over the period. We then document how a fighting group's control of a mining area contributes to escalation from local to global violence. Finally, we analyze the impact of corporate practices and transparency initiatives in the mining industry.

JEL-codes: C23 D74 L70 O13 Q34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.20150774
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (341)

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Related works:
Working Paper: This Mine is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa (2017)
Working Paper: This Mine is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa (2015)
Working Paper: This mine is mine! How minerals fuel conflicts in Africa (2014)
Working Paper: This Mine is Mine! How minerals fuel conflicts in Africa (2014)
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