Movers, Motives, and Impact of Illegal Small-Scale Mining: A Case Study in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-424
Author(s):  
Osman Antwi-Boateng ◽  
Mamudu Akudugu
Keyword(s):  
Resource Curse ◽  
Rent Seeking ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Barriers To Entry ◽  
Weak Institutions ◽  
High Population Growth ◽  
Capital Development

Abstract This research unravels the agents and driving motivation behind the rise of illegal small-scale mining in Ghana and its impact. This is accomplished via a qualitative study using illegal small-scale mining in the Talensi and Nabdam districts of Ghana as a case study. At the forefront of this phenomenon are rent-seeking elites, whereas structural factors such as rising unemployment and high population growth, as well as opportunistic factors including low barriers to entry, get-rich quick syndrome, and political corruption/weak institutions are fueling it as well. Although there are some economic benefits of illegal small-scale mining, these benefits are undermined by factors associated with the Resource Curse Hypothesis (RCH) or the ‘Paradox of Plenty.’ We argue that most illegal small-scale mining communities are characterized by increased rent-seeking activities by diverse stakeholders particularly the elites, poor investments in human capital development, and weak institutional structures and processes. To sustainably address the illegal small-scale gold mining menace in Ghana, all efforts should be aimed at holistically dealing with the rent-seekers, especially the elites involved, eliminating their motives and removing the conditions that facilitate their involvement.

Increasing Natural Resource Rents from Farmland: A Curse or a Blessing for the Rural Poor?

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Hvid
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resource ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Resource Curse ◽  
Rent Seeking ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Weak Institutions ◽  
Resource Rents ◽  
Welfare Losses ◽  
Natural Resource Rents

AbstractThe literature on the resource curse suggests that countries with large natural resource rents and weak institutions may experience rent seeking conflicts among different groups, potentially resulting in high inequality and welfare losses. While agricultural land has so far been categorized as a diffuse resource with low economic value, this categorization may no longer be appropriate, because demand for land is currently on the rise, and may continue to increase in the future. This study presents and discusses recent theoretical and empirical approaches to analyzing the effects of high-value agricultural land on rent seeking and rent distribution. Results suggest that the potential for small scale farmers to organize and obtain political power determines the extent of rent seeking and rent distribution, and that while more democratic institutions may increase the share of rents going to the farmers, they may have adverse welfare effects, because they may increase the competition for rents among groups, and hence the amount of resources spent on rent seeking.

scholarly journals Photovoltaics Enabling Sustainable Energy Communities: Technological Drivers and Emerging Markets

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1862
Author(s):  
Alexandros-Georgios Chronis ◽  
Foivos Palaiogiannis ◽  
Iasonas Kouveliotis-Lysikatos ◽  
Panos Kotsampopoulos ◽  
Nikos Hatziargyriou
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Energy Market ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Open Research ◽  
Energy Community

In this paper, we investigate the economic benefits of an energy community investing in small-scale photovoltaics (PVs) when local energy trading is operated amongst the community members. The motivation stems from the open research question on whether a community-operated local energy market can enhance the investment feasibility of behind-the-meter small-scale PVs installed by energy community members. Firstly, a review of the models, mechanisms and concepts required for framing the relevant concepts is conducted, while a clarification of nuances at important terms is attempted. Next, a tool for the investigation of the economic benefits of operating a local energy market in the context of an energy community is developed. We design the local energy market using state-of-the-art formulations, modified according to the requirements of the case study. The model is applied to an energy community that is currently under formation in a Greek municipality. From the various simulations that were conducted, a series of generalizable conclusions are extracted.

Rent-seeking and firm value: Chinese evidence

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sihai Li ◽  
Huiying Wu ◽  
Xinfeng Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Firm Value ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Corporate Philanthropy ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Rent Seeking ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Weak Institutions ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
The Government

AbstractWe examine whether engagement in rent-seeking improves firm value in China. Rent-seeking is defined as a firm's use of resources to establish a relationship with the government to obtain government-controlled resources. We incorporate political rents and associated costs into an analytical framework to examine the relationship between rent-seeking and firm value. Using a sample of non-state-owned firms listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange from 2007 to 2013, we find evidence of the presence of political rents in the form of government subsidies and evidence of associated costs in the forms of corporate philanthropy and excess management remuneration, which largely explains the insignificant relationship found between rent-seeking and firm value. Our further analysis shows that rent-seeking behavior of firms reduces production efficiency, providing additional evidence to support our thesis that engagement in rent-seeking does not enhance firm value in the Chinese context. In an economy with weak institutions, in particular with weak protection for shareholders, managers and politicians can become rent-seekers and take a considerable share of the economic benefits derived from rent-seeking.

scholarly journals Sustaining Forest Ecosystem Services Through Social Enterprises: Motivations and Challenges from a Case Study in Scotland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohui Zhang ◽  
James S. Paterson ◽  
Teppo Hujala
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
Forest Ecosystem Services

AbstractBoth the concepts of ecosystem services and social enterprise have gained popularity as means of addressing social and environmental issues in recent years. But while research on ecosystem services has focused on non-governmental organisation and local community-led approaches, the role of social enterprises has received less attention. In Scotland, social enterprises play an important role in delivering social and environmental justice, as well as reaping economic benefits through forest-based practices. These practices are often small-scale and attract participants from local communities. But despite this prominence their motivations and the challenges they face remain largely unexplored. This research attempts to integrate both concepts mainly using field observations and interviews, and to reinforce the findings with the existing literature. It explores the motivations and challenges of social enterprises in sustaining forest ecosystem services through a case study, and discusses their potential within the context of current policy. The research suggests that social enterprises are equipped to tackle a range of social and environmental issues. The enterprise under investigation aims to improve participants’ wellbeing and employability, as well as to provide public education and promote environmental awareness. But these efforts are often hindered by the difficulties of high requirements of the manager and staff members in balancing multiple objectives and most importantly, of managing financial risks. The research concludes that a practical method of assessing cultural ecosystem services as well as the use of innovative funding norms may resolve these challenges, allowing social enterprises to fill the current policy gap and create synergies in the fields of ecosystem services and social enterprise.

scholarly journals Research on Resource Curse Effect of Resource-Dependent Cities: Case Study of Qingyang, Jinchang and Baiyin in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenyu Lu ◽  
Dai Wang ◽  
Peng Meng ◽  
Jiaqi Yang ◽  
Min Pang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Resource Curse ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Resource Development ◽  
Dutch Disease ◽  
Development Economic ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Different Types

For a specific small-scale region with abundant resources, its copious resources tend to dictate the basic direction of its development, and may subsequently give rise to an industrial structure centered on the advantageous resources. This can give rise to an economic structure that lacks diversity, causing the economic development in the entire local region to fall into the dilemma of the resource curse. The present study conducts a case study from the perspective of small-scale regions, incorporating various types of resource-dependent cities in China, including Qingyang, Jinchang, and Baiyin, to interpret and analyze the resource curse effect by calculating a resource curse coefficient. Moreover, based on the regression model, the present study further discusses the empirical relations associated with the resource curse phenomenon. The results show that, regardless of whether a resource-dependent city is in the early, intermediate or late stage of its resource development, economic development is always plagued by the resource curse effect to a certain degree. Resource development cannot promote economic development, rather, it inhibits economic growth to some extent, resulting in an array of effects that are unfavorable to economic development, rendering the development unsustainable. For different types of resource-dependent cities, resource curse effect exhibits distinct characteristics. The resource curse effect is strongest for a resource-dependent city during an economic recession, is less severe during a development period, and is weakest during maturation. Resource development not only has a direct adverse impact on economic growth, but also often affects economic growth in multiple ways and on various levels through the Dutch disease effect, the crowding out effect, and the institution weakening effect. Until now, most results show that there is no obvious resource curse effect at the national and provincial level. The verification results of small-scale regions show that the resource curse effect at the city level still exists. In addition, the resource curse effect differs across different types of resource-dependent cities.

On the Origins of Administrative Rent: Doing Business in a Russian Region N

2010 ◽  
pp. 58-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Oleinik
Keyword(s):  
Rent Seeking ◽  
Individual Decision ◽  
Resource Rent ◽  
Competitive Edge ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Russian Region ◽  
Positive Gain ◽  
Access To The Field ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

In the article two types of rent are differentiated: resource rent and administrative rent. The latter is linked to restrictions on the access to the field of interactions. The contribution of the theory of public choice and the theory of rent-seeking and directly-unproductive activities is further developed by shifting the emphasis from individual decision-making to interactions between three actors: C, who controls access to the field, A, who gets a competitive edge as a result, and B, who assumes a subjacent position with regard to both A and C, yet still receives a positive gain from transacting. Domination by virtue of a constellation of As, Bs, and Cs interests is illustrated with the help of an in-depth case study of a Russian region. This study combines quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as their triangulation.

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