The curse of natural resources: An empirical investigation of U.S. counties

Alexander James and David Aadland ()

Resource and Energy Economics, 2011, vol. 33, issue 2, 440-453

Abstract: Research consistently shows that natural resource dependence tends to be associated with lower economic growth. However, the studies typically focus on differences across nations or states. We fill a gap in the literature by testing the so-called resource curse at a more disaggregated county level. Our results show clear evidence that resource-dependent counties exhibit more anemic economic growth, even after controlling for state-specific effects, socio-demographic differences, initial income, and spatial correlation. A case study analysis of Maine and Wyoming, and the counties within, highlight the growth effects of specializing in natural resource extraction.

Keywords: Natural; resource; curse; Economic; growth; Convergence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (156)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:resene:v:33:y:2011:i:2:p:440-453

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