Publications


Resource governance dynamics: The challenge of ‘new oil’ in Uganda

Research article by James Van Alstine, Jami Dixon on 1 Feb 2014

Resource governance norms have evolved at multiple scales to counter the potential negative socio-economic, environmental and institutional impacts of the extractive industries. Advocates of these ‘good governance’ initiatives have sought to mainstream transparency throughout the extractive industries value chain and implement pro-poor projects at the site level. However, these types of resource governance interventions often […]


Transparency in resource governance: the pitfalls and potential of “new oil” in Sub-Saharan Africa

Research article by James Van Alstine on 1 Feb 2014

An international agenda has evolved over the past decade to establish hard and soft rules to govern the impacts of the extractive industries. The international community and some resource-rich states have increasingly embraced norms such as transparency in resource governance. This paper explores how multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and […]





In praise of a green stimulus

Policy publication by Dimitri Zenghelis on 19 Jan 2014

Macroeconomic conditions make this a relatively favorable time to kick-start investments necessary to transition to a resource-efficient economy. There is no lack of private money, just a perceived lack of opportunity. Resource costs are low and the potential to crowd out alternative investment and employment is greatly reduced. It is often argued that the short-term macroeconomic merit of an investment, in terms of what constitutes a good economic stimulus, can be judged against established criteria. These include tests on whether an investment is timely, temporary, and targeted. Although these are important, the evidence presented here suggests that a more important criterion for a sustainable economic impact is the ability to generate private sector confidence in profitable and enduring new markets. The world is likely to transition to a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy over this century and managing this transition has early pay-offs. Clear and credible green policies have the potential restore confidence and generate growth. Providing credible early incentives to invest in resource-efficiency could generate investment and growth in the long and the short run. read more »