A recent study by Amoaning, et al., (2024) titled “Impact of natural resource rents on well-being in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of human capital” published in Research in Globalization by Elsevier Ltd, shows that natural resource rents in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have a negative impact on human welfare.
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Natural resource rents negatively impact sub-Saharan Africa’s welfare, but investing in human capital can mitigate these effects effectively. – Amoaning, et al., 2024
The study explores the “resource curse” hypothesis in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which suggests that regions rich in natural resources often experience less economic growth and worse development outcomes compared to those with fewer natural resources. This research specifically focuses on non-monetary measures of welfare, such as health and education. It aims to understand the impact of natural resource rents—income derived from natural resources—on human welfare in SSA and investigates how human capital, defined as the collective skills, knowledge, and abilities of a population, can mitigate the negative effects of resource dependence. The study also seeks to determine the minimum threshold of human capital necessary to counteract the detrimental impacts of the resource curse in SSA.
How the Study was Conducted
The study utilized a panel dataset from 32 selected sub-Saharan African countries, spanning from 2004 to 201912. The dependent variables considered were the Human Development Index (HDI) and poverty. The main independent variables were total natural resources rents as a share of GDP and human capital variables, measured by the human capital index and tertiary school enrollment (% gross). Control variables included infrastructure index, gross capital formation, trade openness, total unemployment, financial development index, and democracy. The theoretical framework adopted was the augmented version of Solow’s growth model developed by Mankiw et al. (1992), which accounts for physical capital, natural resources, human capital, or labor, and technology. The production function was extended to incorporate natural resources and knowledge level into the equation. The growth rate function was derived, and the human development index was used to capture the multidimensional human welfare measure. The study employed the system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) econometric approach to control for endogeneity and to accommodate the fact that the cross-sections exceeded the time period.
The two-step system GMM was specifically adapted as it is robust to autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity. A panel stationarity test was conducted to examine the smoothness of the variables.
The Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) was used to test for multicollinearity among the variables. The Hansen test for over-identification and the Arellano-Bond second-order-AR(2) autocorrelation test of residuals were used as diagnostics.
What the Authors Found
The authors of the study found that natural resource rents in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have a negative impact on human welfare. However, they also discovered that investing in human capital can mitigate these negative effects. Specifically, they identified a minimum threshold level for human capital score and tertiary school enrollment rate necessary to counteract the resource curse.
Why is this Important
Economic Development: Understanding the impact of natural resource rents on well-being is crucial for economic policy and planning. It helps in formulating strategies that can turn natural resource wealth into sustainable economic growth.
Resource Curse: The study provides empirical evidence on the ‘resource curse,’ where countries rich in natural resources often have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources.
Human Capital Investment: Highlighting the role of human capital as a mitigating factor emphasizes the importance of investing in education and skills development to counteract the negative effects of resource dependence.
Policy Implications: The research offers actionable insights for policymakers to improve human welfare by increasing educational investments and achieving higher human capital thresholds.
Sustainable Development: It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing how to leverage natural resources for human progress while ensuring environmental sustainability and social equity.
What the Authors Recommend
- The study recommends that policymakers increase investment in education to boost tertiary school enrollment above the estimated threshold and implement policies to enhance the average years of schooling for the productive population
- The authors emphasize implementing policies that will increase the average years the productive unit spends in schooling, aiming to elevate the human capital score above the identified threshold.
- The authors advocate that policymakers should focus on human capital development to offset the negative repercussions of natural resource dependence on welfare.
- In addition, the authors recommend that policymakers should align natural resource management policies with human capital development strategies to ensure that natural resource wealth translates into human development gains.
In conclusion, the study by Amoaning et al. (2024) underscores the significant impact of natural resource rents on human welfare in sub-Saharan Africa, confirming the presence of the resource curse. However, it also highlights the crucial role of human capital investment in mitigating these negative effects. By identifying specific thresholds for human capital development, particularly in education, the research provides actionable insights for policymakers. These findings advocate for a strategic alignment of natural resource management with human capital development to ensure that resource wealth translates into sustainable human development. Emphasizing education and skill enhancement is essential for transforming the economic landscape of sub-Saharan Africa, turning potential resource-related challenges into opportunities for growth and well-being.
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