Natural Resources and Political Patronage in Africa: An Ethnicity Level Analysis
We investigate the effect of resource discoveries on ethnicity level political patronage in Africa using a large geospatial dataset of 254 ethnic groups in 15 countries over the period 1960 to 2004. We find that the first (or single first) resource discovery in a virgin ethnic homeland increases the share of cabinet posts of that ethnicity. The effect is induced by both expectations and rent. Overall the effect is mainly driven by major mineral discoveries as opposed to oil and gas. The discovery shocks do not trigger monopoly or dominant access to power, autonomy, separatism, and exclusion. Our analysis reveals that point source resource (mineral) rents are far more important political currency than di use agricultural commodity rents. Furthermore, by ranking ministries into Top and Bottom levels we find some evidence of window dressing politics. Our results survive a battery of robustness tests and controls.
Date: 9 May 2018, 14:00 (Wednesday, 3rd week, Trinity 2018)
Venue: Manor Road Building, Manor Road OX1 3UQ
Venue Details: Seminar Room B
Speaker: Nemera Gebeyehu Mamo (University of Sussex)
Organising department: Department of Economics
Part of: OxCarre Lunchtime Seminar
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editors: Antonella Surdi, Erin Saunders, Anne Pouliquen, Melis Clark