Assessing the Resource Curse Hypothesis across the ECOWAS Region: A Systematic Review of Socioeconomic and Political Impacts.

Lawal Olamilekan Abdulwahab

Abstract


This study systematically reviews major literature on the resource curse across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the region blessed with abundant natural resources, despite these resources, many of the ECOWAS nations still experience slower economic due to social, economic, and political lacunae that further hamper economic growth and development. The study employed inclusion and exclusion techniques with thorough screening in analyzing this literature. After careful and robust evaluation, the study highlighted several areas that are left out from the previous scholars regarding the "Resource Curse Paradox". The study therefore proposed that future researchers should explore economic diversification and strategies against global commodity price fluctuations for ECOWAS nations to reap the benefits of its vast resources. This study implies that it is a pathway for future researchers and policymakers to overcome the resource curse paradox and gain economic growth.


Keywords


Resource Curse, Natural Resource, Economic Growth, Institutional Quality, Conflict and ECOWAS.

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30596/miceb.v2i0.795

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