This Mine is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Berman, Nicolas; Couttenier, Mathieu; Rohner, Dominic; Thoenig, Mathias
• 署名单位: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Aix-Marseille Universite; Center for Economic & Policy Research (CEPR); University of Geneva; University of Lausanne; University of Lausanne
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20150774
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 1564-1610
• 关键词: NATURAL-RESOURCES; civil conflict; curse; WAR; greed; OIL; institutions; CORRUPTION; grievance; diamonds

摘要

We combine georeferenced data on mining extraction of 14 minerals with information on conflict events at spatial resolution of 0.5 o x 0.5 o 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.