This Mine is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa

69 Pages Posted: 6 Jul 2015

See all articles by Nicolas Berman

Nicolas Berman

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

Mathieu Couttenier

University of Lausanne - DEEP

Dominic Rohner

University of Zurich

Mathias Thoenig

University of Lausanne; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 29, 2015

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 conflict 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

JEL Classification: C230, D740, Q340

Suggested Citation

Berman, Nicolas and Couttenier, Mathieu and Rohner, Dominic and Thoenig, Mathias, This Mine is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa (June 29, 2015). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 5409, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2627073 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2627073

Nicolas Berman

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) ( email )

PO Box 136
Geneva, CH-1211
Switzerland

Mathieu Couttenier

University of Lausanne - DEEP ( email )

Université de Lausanne
Quartier UNIL-Dorigny
Lausanne, 1004
Switzerland

Dominic Rohner (Contact Author)

University of Zurich ( email )

Muehlebachstrasse 86
Zurich, 8008
Switzerland

Mathias Thoenig

University of Lausanne ( email )

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

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