The Review of Mining Laws and the Renegotiation of Mining Agreements in Africa: Recent Developments from Ghana

2015 ◽  
pp. 467-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kwaku Ayisi
Keyword(s):  
Mining Industry ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Regulatory Reform ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Fiscal Regimes ◽  
Fiscal Regime ◽  
Mining Laws ◽  
The Impact

Within the last decade, the global mining industry has witnessed a surge in the price of minerals, particularly gold. As a result, several African countries have reviewed or launched the review of their mining contracts, revised their fiscal regimes and taken measures to enhance beneficiation or government take. But there is growing evidence that high commodity prices may no longer be driving the trend toward a revision of mining laws or contractual terms in Africa. As a view into the evolving policy debate, this article discusses the imposition of new taxes and the renegotiation of mining agreements in Ghana. It examines the impact of recent changes to the fiscal regime vis-a-vis the protection which Ghana’s mining law offers against the risks and uncertainties that foreign investors face in mineral resource development. The article concludes that, while Ghana’s recent regulatory reform efforts are commendable, they fall short of achieving their desired results.

scholarly journals This Mine is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (6) ◽  
pp. 1564-1610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Berman ◽  
Mathieu Couttenier ◽  
Dominic Rohner ◽  
Mathias Thoenig
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Average Level ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Impact Of Mining

We combine georeferenced data on mining extraction of 14 minerals with information on conflict events at spatial resolution of 0.5 o × 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. (JEL C23, D74, L70, O13, Q34)

scholarly journals Comprehensive Approach to Relevant and Reliable Reporting in Europe: A Dream Impossible?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 5277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jukka Mähönen
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Regulatory Reform ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Corporate reporting and governance are interlinked: Accounting and reporting inventions created the modern company, and without the modern company there is no entity from which to report. Due to its raison d’etre, reporting remained finance-centered, to protect financial capital providers. From the 1970’s, the question of the interests of ‘stakeholders’ emerged, with attempts of ‘social reporting’, ‘corporate social responsibility’, ‘environmental’, and ‘social and environmental’ and finally ‘integrated’ accounting and reporting. These trends are reflected also in the European Union legal framework, both in regulation of especially financial intermediaries and the ‘non-financial’ reporting. This article is based on an extensive literature review, research conducted in the Sustainable Market Actors for Responsible Trade (SMART) project, and socio-legal and economic empirical research based conceptual analysis of the impact of these reporting systems and their relationship to financial accounting and reporting. The result of the research is that sustainability is reduced to focus on institutional investors and other members in the investment supply chain, and climate change issues only, and new regulatory solutions are required. Based on the most recent developments in EU law and in European jurisdictions, possible paths forward are envisaged to encourage sustainability in reporting and assurance, and through that, in governance. As an outcome a set of regulatory reform proposals are given based on the SMART recommendations.

scholarly journals Manufacturing Sector and Economic Growth: A Panel Study of Selected African Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 114-130
Author(s):  
Clement Moyo ◽  
Leward Jeke
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Value Added ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
System Gmm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Determinants Of Economic Growth

Objective – The manufacturing sector plays an important role in any economy. However, Africa has experienced significant deindustrialisation over the last few decades, whilst economic growth has been on an upward trend over the same period. The high growth rates have mostly been propelled by improved macroeconomic stability and the commodity price boom. Further, the slowdown in commodity prices has recently caused a deceleration of economic growth which begs the question: Does promoting the manufacturing sector result in higher and sustainable economic growth and reduce unemployment? This study assesses the impact of the manufacturing sector on economic growth in 37 African countries. Methodology/Technique – This study employs the System-GMM Model for the period between 1990 and 2017. This technique is ideal as the number of cross-sectional units is greater than the number of time periods. This technique also caters for problems of endogeneity and heteroscedasticity. Findings – The results show that manufacturing value has a positive effect on economic growth in African countries. Therefore, it is recommended that policy makers enact measures to boost manufacturing output. Novelty –The deceleration of economic growth in African countries coupled with high unemployment and poverty levels has brought the issue of re-industrialisation into the spotlight. This study is vital for policy makers in African countries who seek to promote economic growth and employment levels. The study contributes to literature in African countries by incorporating variables such as human capital and institutional quality which are major determinants of economic growth. Type of Paper: Empirical. Keywords: Manufacturing Value Added; Economic Growth; African Countries; System-GMM. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Moyo, C; Jeke, L. 2019. Manufacturing Sector and Economic Growth: A Panel Study of Selected African Countries, J. Bus. Econ. Review 4(3) 114 – 130 https://doi.org/10.35609/jber.2019.4.3(1) JEL Classification: C23, E23, O14, O40.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and the Global Mining Industry

SEG Discovery ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
Simon M. Jowitt
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Mining Sector ◽  
Supply Chain Disruptions ◽  
Demand Growth ◽  
Global Nature ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The world is currently experiencing a rapid and deep economic slowdown as a result of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. The depth and global nature of this recession, which could turn into a depression, suggests that this pandemic will significantly affect the demand for metals and the global mining sector. The majority of governments consider mining to be essential, meaning that the effect of mitigation on the mining industry and on metal production has been minimal to date. However, increases in metal stocks and decreases in metal prices suggest that the mining industry will be negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis, at least in the short term. This paper presents an overview of the effects of COVID-19 mitigation on the mining sector to date. That includes variations in metal and commodity prices and stocks during the crisis and the outlining of two possible scenarios for COVID-19 related impacts. The first involves persistent supply-chain disruptions, where metal supply is restricted by logistical or COVID-19–related mitigation impacts on intermediates such as smelters and refiners. This restriction of supply could cause higher metal prices but also could cause issues with demand for ores and concentrates that negatively affect individual mining operations. More likely is a second slower demand growth scenario in which a global decrease in demand for metals causes further lowering of metal prices with associated negative economic impacts on mining operations. However, further research into global metal supply chains and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on individual metals is needed. Key remaining unknowns include the influence of mitigation efforts on global metal supply and demand, the effect of these efforts on metal prices, and the geography of supply chains.

Exploring the World Trade Organisation's Trade and Environment/Public Health Jurisprudence as a Model for Incorporating a Trade–Labour Linkage into the Organisation's Multilateral Trade Regime: Should African Countries Accept a Policy Shift?

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-65
Author(s):  
Tapiwa V. Warikandwa ◽  
Patrick C. Osode
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
World Trade ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Trade Regime ◽  
Multilateral Trade ◽  
Appellate Body ◽  
The World ◽  
Labour Standards ◽  
The Impact

The incorporation of a trade-labour (standards) linkage into the multilateral trade regime of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been persistently opposed by developing countries, including those in Africa, on the grounds that it has the potential to weaken their competitive advantage. For that reason, low levels of compliance with core labour standards have been viewed as acceptable by African countries. However, with the impact of WTO agreements growing increasingly broader and deeper for the weaker and vulnerable economies of developing countries, the jurisprudence developed by the WTO Panels and Appellate Body regarding a trade-environment/public health linkage has the potential to address the concerns of developing countries regarding the potential negative effects of a trade-labour linkage. This article argues that the pertinent WTO Panel and Appellate Body decisions could advance the prospects of establishing a linkage of global trade participation to labour standards without any harm befalling developing countries.

Remittances, Economic Growth and Poverty: A Case of African OIC Member Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-143
Author(s):  
Nasim Shah Shirazi ◽  
Sajid Amin Javed ◽  
Dawood Ashraf
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Financial Development ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Simultaneous Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Simultaneous Equation Model ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates the impact of remittance inflows on economic growth and poverty reduction for seven African countries using annual data from 1992-2010. By using the depth of hunger as a proxy for poverty in a Simultaneous Equation Model (SEM), we find that remittances have statistically significant growth enhancing and poverty reducing impact. Drawing on our estimates, we conclude that financial development level significantly increases the remittances inflows and strengthens poverty alleviating impact of remittances. Results of our study further show a signficant interactive imapct of remittances and finacial develpment on economic growth, suggesting the substitutability between remittance inflows and financial development. We further find that 3 percentage point increase in credit provision to the private sector (financial development) can help eliminate the severe depth of hunger in the region. Remittances, serving an alternative source of private credit, can be effective in this regard. Keywords: Remittance Inflow, Poverty Alleviation, Financial Development, Simultaneous Equation Model

Global Food Commodity Prices and Domestic Food Inflation: Some Insights from Morocco

New Medit ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed EL GHIN ◽  
Mounir EL-KARIMI
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rate Regime ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Consumer Prices ◽  
Floating Exchange Rate ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Food Inflation ◽  
Global Food ◽  
Domestic Food

This paper examines the world commodity prices pass-through to food inflation in Morocco, over the period 2004-2018, by using Structural Vector Autoregression (SVAR) model on monthly data. Several interesting results are found from this study. First, the impact of global food prices on domestic food inflation is shown significant, which reflects the large imported component in the domestic food consumption basket. Second, the transmission effect is found to vary across commodities. Consumer prices of cereals and oils significantly and positively respond to external price shocks, while those of dairy and beverages are weakly influenced. Third, there is evidence of asymmetries in the pass-through from world to domestic food prices, where external positive shocks generate a stronger local prices response than negative ones. This situation is indicative of policy and market distortions, namely the subsidies, price controls, and weak competitive market structures. Our findings suggest that food price movements should require much attention in monetary policymaking, especially that the country has taken preliminary steps towards the adoption of floating exchange rate regime.

Theory and Method and the Stakes of a Fragmented Discipline: Or, What Economics Taught Me About the Study of Religion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Religious Studies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Study

Abstract As a discipline, the academic study of religion is strikingly fragmented, with little engagement or shared criteria of excellence across subfields. Although important recent developments have expanded the traditions and peoples studied as well as the methods used, the current extent of fragmentation limits the impact of this diversification and pluralization. At a moment when the global pandemic is catalyzing profound pressures on our universities and disciplines, this fragmentation makes it difficult to articulate to the public, to non-religious studies colleagues, and to students why the study of religion matters. We therefore too often fall back on platitudes. I argue for a revitalized methods and theories conversation that connects us even as it bears our arguments and disagreements about what we do and how. Courses in methods and theories in the study of religion represent the most viable basis we have for bringing the academic study of religion into the common conversation or argument that constitutes a discipline without sacrificing our pluralism.

scholarly journals Use of Multi-Anionic Sodium Tripolyphosphate to Enhance Dispersion of Concentrated Kaolin Slurries in Seawater

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1085
Author(s):  
Williams Leiva ◽  
Norman Toro ◽  
Pedro Robles ◽  
Edelmira Gálvez ◽  
Ricardo Ivan Jeldres
Keyword(s):  
Rheological Properties ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Sodium Tripolyphosphate ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Chord Length ◽  
Water Recovery ◽  
Reflectance Measurement ◽  
Anionic Charge ◽  
Free Environment ◽  
The Impact

This research aims to analyze the impact of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) as a rheological modifier of concentrated kaolin slurries in seawater at pH 8, which is characteristic of copper sulfide processing operations. The dispersion phenomenon was analyzed through chord length measurements using the focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique, complementing size distributions in unweighted and square-weighted modes. The reduction of the rheological properties was significant, decreasing from 231 Pa in a reagent-free environment to 80 Pa after the application of STPP. A frequency sweep in a linear viscoelastic regime indicated that by applying a characteristic dosage of 0.53 kg/t of STPP, the pulp before yielding increases its phase angle, which increases its liquid-like character. Measurements of the chord length verified the dispersion of particles, which showed an apparent increase in the proportion of fine particles and a reduction of the coarser aggregates when STPP was applied. Measurements of the zeta potential suggested that the high anionic charge of the reagent (pentavalent) increases the electrostatic repulsions between particles, overcoming the effect of cations in seawater. The results are relevant for the mining industry, especially when the deposits have high contents of complex gangues, such as clays, that increase the rheological properties. This increases the energy costs and water consumption needed for pumping the tailings from thickeners to the tailing storages facilities. The strategies that allow for the improvement of the fluidity and deformation of the tailings generate slack in order to maximize water recovery in the thickening stages.

scholarly journals Editorial: Education in Europe and the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-402
Author(s):  
Sotiria Grek ◽  
Paolo Landri
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Liberal Education ◽  
Education For All ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
New Era ◽  
European Education ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Research And Policy

Although the global Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting our lives enormously, we know that a new era of deep reflection about ‘normality’, our planet and our existence on it has also begun. The ‘Education in Europe and the Covid-19 Pandemic’ double Special Issue intends to be part of this reflexive discussion about the post-pandemic European education policy and research space. This is a space shaped continuously by crises and opportunities, by utopias of a shared progressive and liberal education for all, but also the dystopias of nationalism, populism, climate destruction and now a global health emergency. This editorial offers an overview of the current crisis context and of the articles; further, it positions the journal within the post-pandemic research and policy debate about how to understand the impact of the pandemic on the changing forms of education and its enduring inequalities.

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