This Mine is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa

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

No 5409, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We combine original geo-referenced data on mining extraction of 15 minerals with information on conflict events at spatial resolution of 0.5o x 0.5o for all Africa over 1997-2010. Exploiting exogenous variations in world prices, we find a positive impact of mining on conict at the local level. Quantitatively, the historical rise in prices (commodity super-cycle) explains 15-25 percent of average country-level violence in Africa. We then document how the appropriation of a mining area by a fighting group contributes to the escalation from local to global violence. Finally, we analyze the impact of corporate practices and transparency initiatives in the mining industry.

Keywords: minerals; mines; conflict; fighting; natural resources; rebellion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 D74 Q34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (34)

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Related works:
Journal Article: This Mine Is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa (2017)
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 (2014)
Working Paper: This Mine is Mine! How minerals fuel conflicts in Africa (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_5409

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