How Many Wildebeest do You Need?
Mike Norton-Griffiths
Volume 8, Number 2, 2007, pages 41 - 64
The catastrophic decline of wildlife in Kenya—some 60% over the last 30 years—finally galvanised the government into a review of wildlife policy. But what should have been a sober discussion of market failures, institutional failures, policy failures and conservation failures was hijacked by the int ... Read more
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Prospects for Commodity Exporters
Hunky Dory or Humpty Dumpty?
Paul Collier & Benedikt Goderis
Volume 8, Number 2, 2007, pages 1 - 15
Those low-income countries that export non-agricultural commodities are in the midst of a resource transfer. It is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity for transformative development that these societies have experienced, dwarfing both aid and previous commodity booms. To get it in proportion, in 200 ... Read more
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Comment
Phillip Crowson on the ‘death of distance’ and natural resource-based economic development in history.
Volume 7, Number 1, 2006, pages 185 - 187
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The Enduring Elixir of Economic Growth
Xavier Sala-i-Martin on the wealth and poverty of nations
An interview with introduction by Brian Snowdon
Volume 7, Number 1, 2006, pages 73 - 130
“I think that the most important question that an economist can ask is, What is it that makes a country grow? More than anything else it is economic growth that affects human welfare…this is why it must remain a major research interest for economists.” In this interview Xavier Sala-i-Martin—w ... Read more
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Can Iraq Overcome the Oil Curse?
Robert E. Looney
Volume 7, Number 1, 2006, pages 21 - 44
A growing literature suggests that the oil sector and the allocation of its revenues is the critical variable in shaping both the economic structure and political systems of countries like Iraq. For the most part this literature focuses on the so-called “oil curse” or the “paradox of plenty.” ... Read more
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Natural Resource-Based Economic Development in History
Edward B. Barbier
Volume 6, Number 3, 2005, pages 103 - 152
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, resour ... Read more
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Paradoxes in Biodiversity Conservation
David Pearce
Volume 6, Number 3, 2005, pages 57 - 69
Biodiversity is important for human wellbeing, but it is declining. Measures to
conserve biodiversity are essential but may be a waste of effort if several
paradoxes are not addressed. The highest levels of diversity are in nations least
able to practise effective conservation. The flow of funds ... Read more
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The Nature of Corruption in Forest Management
Charles Palmer
Volume 6, Number 2, 2005, pages 1 - 10
Corruption is a well-documented and common feature of natural resource management in the developing world. This article investigates the nature of corruption and whether or not there is such a thing as a ‘tolerable’ level of corruption, particularly where there is an established culture of patronage ... Read more
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Hydropower in Bhutan and Nepal
Why the difference?
Jeremy Berkoff
Volume 4, Number 3, 2003, pages 121 - 142
Bhutan and Nepal have followed differing hydropower development strategies.
Bhutan has co-operated with India and power export earnings have helped fund a
broadly successful economic, environmental and social programme. In contrast,
Nepal turned to the World Bank and other donors to fund its powe ... Read more
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Five Centuries of Energy Prices
Roger Fouquet & Peter Pearson
Volume 4, Number 3, 2003, pages 93 - 119
Concerns about rising energy prices tend to occur in times of economic
expansion, to disappear in times of recession. A recurring fear is that, in the long
run, real energy prices will trend upwards. This paper presents evidence from
five hundred years of prices of energy sources for the United K ... Read more
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Global Challenges of Providing Water and Wastewater Services
Paul Seidenstat
Volume 4, Number 1, 2003, pages 133 - 152
A key problem of water is the provision of a safe water supply for domestic use.
Given the characteristics of water as a commodity, the general misuse of the
pricing mechanism, and the economics of developing and operating water and
wastewater systems, governments are faced with the challenge of ... Read more
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Mother Earth: Ally or Adversary?
Thorvaldur Gylfason
Volume 3, Number 1, 2002, pages 7 - 24
Economic growth requires capital. This article reviews the relationship between
economic growth around the world and six different kinds of capital: real capital; human capital; financial capital; foreign capital; social capital; and natural capital. Economic theory and empirical evidence suggest t ... Read more
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Policy-Making in Resource-Rich Countries
Lessons from Zambia
Arne Bigsten
Volume 2, Number 3, 2001, pages 139 - 153
Economic development depends upon resource availability, resource allocation,
and the efficiency of resource use. One would presume that countries with an
abundance of natural resources would stand a better chance of developing than
resource-poor countries. Recent experiences in less developed co ... Read more
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Biodiversity in the Marketplace
Geoffrey Heal
Volume 1, Number 4, 2000, pages 149 - 177
What is the nature of biodiversity as an economic commodity and why does it matter? How would its conservation contribute economically to our well-being? In this article, Geoffrey Heal considers three issues: Why is biodiversity important from an economic perspective? What kind of commodity is it? D ... Read more
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Why Did the Protected Areas Fail the Giant Panda?
The economics of conserving endangered species in developing countries
Timothy M. Swanson & Andreas Kontoleon
Volume 1, Number 4, 2000, pages 135 - 148
Most biodiversity lies within the developing world, and much of it is under threat because of forces for change within these countries. In order to be effective, biodiversity conservation must be viewed as a development opportunity, rather than as a constraint on development. This implies manageme ... Read more
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Can Agriculture Become an Environmental Asset?
Daniel W. Bromley
Volume 1, Number 3, 2000, pages 127 - 139
Traditional treatments see agricultural practices as inimical to many environmental attributes in rural areas. In the policy arena, farmers and environmentalists often clash over land-use practices, crop monoculture, animal wastes, and the application of chemicals – the residues of which are said t ... Read more
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Technical Progress and Global Warming
The case for a technology policy
Dennis Anderson
Volume 1, Number 3, 2000, pages 81 - 99
The case is argued for a larger and more explicit role for technology policies in responding to climate change. Policies and institutions set up during the Cold War arms race could be reformed and redirected towards the goal of making renewable energy a viable competitor to carbon-emitting fuels. Pu ... Read more
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