Refining Oil:
A Way Out of the Resource Curse?
Simon Baur
Winner of the Prize for Excellent Dissertation,
MSc Development Management (2013)
Abstract
This paper analyses variation in the refining capacities of oil-producing countries and its economic and institutional outcome within the resource curse framework. It argues that the absence of refining capacities in oil-producing countries is not simply the result of the nature of the commodity, but rather the outcome of engineering political relations out of energy flows. Increasing refining capacities in oil-producing countries may not only improve the economic outcome by enhancing linkages between oil production and other sectors of the economy but also mitigate the negative institutional effect associated with oil rents and power concentration as political groups linked to the petrochemical sector increase their bargaining power vis-a-vis the government.
Keywords
-
Oil / Petrochemicals
-
Refinement capacities
-
Resource management
-
Economic growth
Download the dissertation here.