Natural Resources, Aid, and Democratization: A Best-Case Scenario

• Published in: Public choice Vol. 131; no. 3/4; pp. 365 - 386
• Main Author: Morrison, Kevin M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.06.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Authoritarianism; Democracy; Democratic theory; Democratization; Dictators; Dictatorship; Economic models; Economic resources; Energy resources; Foreign Aid; Income inequality; Income redistribution; Natural Resources; Political economy; Political power; Political revolutions; Political science; Politics; Power; Revenue; Safeguards; Studies; Task forces; Tax rates; Taxation

Natural resources and aid give dictators revenue to maintain power. Attempts are being made, therefore, to funnel these resources away from nondemocratic governments and toward their citizens. Using formal analysis and building on existing theories of democratization, I analyze the effects of such i...