Many countries endowed with natural resources fall victim to poverty, corruption, civil war, or deep economic crises. This volume examines the paradox of the resource curse by addressing its root causes - a buyer's unfair advantage over a supplier; governments that unwisely live off their capital; insufficient investments in education; and more.

Many countries endowed with ample natural resources fall victim to poverty, corruption, civil war, or deep economic crises. This volume examines the paradox of the resource curse by directly addressing its root causes - a buyer's unfair advantage over a supplier; governments that unwisely live off their capital; insufficient investments in education; theft by political leaders; grievances in producing regions - and proposing feasible solutions. The book offers a broad framework suggesting how willing governments could obtain a contractual advantage over oil corporations, achieve optimal expenditure and investment practices, distribute resource wealth evenly, and build healthy relationships between state and society.