Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Resource extractive economy'

This thesis draws on David Harvey’s concept of “accumulation by dispossession” and an international political economy (IPE) approach centred on the institutional arrangements and power structures that privilege certain actors and values, in order to critique current capitalist practices of primitive accumulation by the global corporate extractive industry. The thesis examines how accumulation by dispossession by the global extractive industry is facilitated by the “free entry” or “free mining” principle. It does so by focusing on Canada as a leader in the global extractive industry and the spread of this country’s mining laws to other countries – in other words, the transnationalisation of norms in the global extractive industry – so as to maintain a consistent and familiar operating environment for Canadian extractive companies. The transnationalisation of norms is further promoted by key international institutions such as the World Bank, which is also the world’s largest development lender and also plays a key role in shaping the regulations that govern natural resource extraction. The thesis briefly investigates some Canadian examples of resource extraction projects, in order to demonstrate the weaknesses of Canadian mining laws, particularly the lack of protection of landowners’ rights under the free entry system and the subsequent need for “free, prior and informed consent” (FPIC). The thesis also considers some of the challenges to the adoption and implementation of the right to FPIC. These challenges include embedded institutional structures like the free entry mining system, international political economy (IPE) as shaped by international institutions and powerful corporations, as well as concerns regarding ‘local’ power structures or the legitimacy of representatives of communities affected by extractive projects. The thesis concludes that in order for Canada to be truly recognized as a leader in the global extractive industry, it must establish legal norms domestically to ensure that Canadian mining companies and residents can be held accountable when there is evidence of environmental and/or human rights violations associated with the activities of Canadian mining companies abroad. The thesis also concludes that Canada needs to address underlying structural issues such as the free entry mining system and implement FPIC, in order to curb “accumulation by dispossession” by the extractive industry, both domestically and abroad.

As Africa's largest economy and its most populous country, over a decade of rapid economic growth in Nigeria contributed to the 'Africa Rising' narrative. However, like many African commodity exporters, this economic growth, billions of dollars in oil earnings and electoral democracy have not translated into a diversified and industrial economy. This study examines why the Nigerian economy remains so dependent on oil and is non-industrial, which I argue are economic and development outcomes of specific policy choices constrained by Nigeria's institutional configuration or the political settlement. In this endeavour, my central preoccupation is with the political processes of decision making which at any point in time favour one policy choice over the other in resource-rich and plural societies such as Nigeria, and the economic and development outcomes of these policy choices. I employ the political settlements analytical framework to unveil these political processes and the conditions they create in which certain policies are preferred over others. This entails an examination of the causal relationship within the three variables of 'constraints', 'policies' and 'economic and development outcomes'. I argue that understanding Nigeria's challenges of economic diversification requires an examination of its political settlement to identify horizontal (elite competition), vertical (societal agitations for resource redistribution) and external (oil shocks) constraints on a ruling coalition, and the specific economic policy responses each constraint generates. Essentially, my research explains how policy makers are constrained to pursue certain courses of action over others, and the outcomes of these policies on economic growth and the structural transformation of production, exports and government revenue. In the Nigerian context, the study also examines how sub-national and regional differentiation in the distribution of growth in states like Lagos and Kano affect future political processes and their policy outcomes. The thesis draws from multiple data sources, including economic data, semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders, documentary sources, and participant and non-participant observation.

This dissertation examines how confusion and lack of access to information about subsurface property rights facilitates the rapid acquisition of mineral rights by mining interests, leaving those who live 'above the surface' to contend with complicated corporate and bureaucratic apparatuses. The research focuses on the first proposed state-run large scale mining project in Ecuador, believed to contain copper ores, and on the natural gas hydrofracking industry in three counties in north central West Virginia. Qualitative and visual methods, including mapping, are employed to determine (i.) how the geography of subsurface ownership patterns is changing, (ii.) links between changes in subsurface ownership and surface ownership, and (iii.) how these changes are facilitated or impeded by institutional and governance practices. Rights and permit acquisitions are facilitated by state institutions, which often have strategic interests in mineral development. Accordingly, this research also considers the role of state strategy with respect to the establishment, bureaucratic management, and enforcement of vertical territory, which reflects the state’s interest in and sovereign claim over subterranean resources to benefit the nation. The research finds that the historical separation of subsurface property rights from the surface is associated with a persistent weakening of surface holder claims to land in favor of mining development, and that this weakening has contributed to the long-term persistence of absentee ownership and control over land in Ecuador and West Virginia. Viewing subsurface land deals from the perspective of those whose lives are disrupted on the surface, I conclude from this work that mundane practices such as deed transfers and local micropolitics about land use are significant factors in the lead up to larger scale violences and silences, such as forced displacement and even political imprisonment of activists opposed to extraction.

This thesis presents three core chapters examining different aspects of the relationship between natural resources and economic development. While addressing different questions they share several features in common: a concern with causal inference; overcoming the challenges of endogeneity between resource abundance and other characteristics of developing countries; and the use of new and novel datasets with spatially identified units of analysis. The work contributes to a rich and growing empirical literature seeking to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms affecting the fortunes of resource-abundant countries. In the introductory chapter I discuss the extensive literature on this topic and in particular focus on the new generation of well-identified within-country studies, seeking to understand the empirical relationship between resources and economic development. Countries typically welcome the news of a resource discovery with joy and indeed, resource discoveries hold great economic potential. But what determines whether a country is resource rich or not? Is it more than just a chance finding, or good geology? In Chapter 2, entitled Institutions and the Location of Oil Exploration I present an investigation into this question. I examine the relationship between governance and choices of where to drill for oil. This work utilises a new dataset on exploration wells and looks at the distribution of drilling close to national borders. This allows me to identify estimates for the effect of differences in governance between neighbours. Two times out of three, investors choose to drill on the side of borders that are better governed, all other things being equal. This suggests that resource-wealth itself may be contingent on factors beyond geology, and indeed may be endogenous to the process of development. In Chapter 3, entitled The Local Effects of Resource Extraction, I turn my attention to the local economic consequences of industrial mining in Indonesia. I present a simple three-sector general equilibrium model to generate predictions for the local labour market, akin to the Corden-Neary Dutch disease model of the macroeconomy. I test the predicted effects in response to an exogenous resource sector shock by looking at mine opening or mine expansion events across three hundred mines. I test the predictions of the model, first by estimating the economic footprint from industrial mining; found to be an average of fifteen kilometre radius. I then examine the response of reported labour market activity from households surveyed in nearby communities. Here I find no evidence for a shift of local labour into the mining sector. I do find however a notable movement of labour from the traded sectors (agriculture and manufacturing) to the non-traded service sector, with a strong effect for foreign-owned mines versus domestic ones. Chapter 4, entitled Disentangling the Effects of Resource Extraction: Local Government and Investment Multipliers, examines the oil and gas boom in Indonesia from 1999-2009. Here I deploy a variety of identification strategies to attempt to disentangle the regional effects of the boom, measured in terms of district GDP. I estimate effects arising from transfers of revenue to local government. Using an instrumental variable approach I isolate the fiscal channel from resource projects. I find a positive and significant effect of increased local government revenues on district GDP over the boom decade. I then examine the spillovers from resource projects, isolating them from fiscal transfers. For districts neighbouring resource rich districts I find evidence for a modest positive effect arising from project investments, rather than fiscal transfers. In Chapter 5 I present concluding thoughts and discuss a future research agenda. I also summarise the burgeoning landscape of resource data available for within country and spatially identified studies and offer some thoughts on how this might evolve.

Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 97-103).
My thesis seeks to explore the challenge of value capture from natural resources using the case of the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia and Pennsylvania as an exemplar. I examine the mechanisms in place to capture the economic benefits of shale gas extraction in these two states, performing a rough cost benefit analysis that attempts to quantify the economic impact of a single natural gas well drilled in each state. The thesis has two objectives: first, to determine whether or not drilling in the Marcellus Shale produces benefits that are captured and distributed in a way that accounts for the costs of natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Second, I hope to provide a cost benefit analysis framework that any locality considering allowing the shale gas industry to operate within its boundaries could utilize to recognize gaps in the distribution of costs and benefits early on, prior to the start of drilling. In addition to performing a cost benefit analysis under normal operations, I also estimate the costs associated with a groundwater contamination rate of 1.2% of drilled shale gas wells in 2012 in both states. This analysis reveals that the costs of groundwater contamination exceed the level of funding allocated to address these potential costs by more than $1 billion in some scenarios. In response to this lack of cost coverage, I suggest several policy solutions aimed at increasing the level of financial assurances states have in place to address the potential negative externalities resulting from the shale gas industry. By limiting the potential negative economic impact of the shale gas industry, these policy suggestions also support stronger value capture.
by Sara Lynn Hess.
M.C.P.

This thesis developed a thematic structure for evaluating social externalities of major resource projects using a mixed methods approach and structural equation modelling. The implications offer important insights into the extent quality of life is being influenced by coal seam gas projects in regional communities in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Findings show that unresolved concerns of community residents about environmental and social impacts contribute to lower life-satisfaction, inhibit the community to plan for the future, and lead to a weaker local economy.

Multi-stakeholder Initiatives (MSIs) bring multiple stakeholders (usually government, business, and civil society) to a common platform to dialogue, design, and implement sustainable solutions to identified governance issues. However, what factors are likely to determine the effectiveness of MSIs? The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global MSI, established in 2003, that seeks to improve the management of natural resource wealth in implementing countries through increased transparency. This study examines the Nigerian EITI to explore the factors that influence the organisation and effectiveness of MSIs. We find that the Nigerian EITI (NEITI) falls short of a truly multi-stakeholder initiative and hence is limited in its impact and effectiveness in improving resource wealth management in Nigeria. Four factors deduced from a combination of agency and collective action theories appear to be strong in explaining the shortcomings of the NEITI. These factors are the Nigerian structural environment, the characteristics of the stakeholders to the Nigerian extractives industry, the emergent governance structure of NEITI, and the nature of external influence on NEITI. Evidence gathered from the implementation of NEITI, demonstrates that a combination of these factors has contributed to the difficulty in achieving a truly multi-stakeholder structure and hence the limited impact of the initiative on improving resource wealth management in Nigeria.

L’augmentation de la consommation de ressources suscite des préoccupations quant à leur disponibilité. Ces dernières années, les organisations nationales et internationales ont défini l’approvisionnement durable des ressources et la mise en place d’une économie circulaire comme des objectifs centraux de leurs stratégies à court et long termes.Dans ce contexte, différentes approches méthodologiques relevant de l’Analyse du Cycle de Vie (ACV) sont utilisées pour caractériser l'impact de l'épuisement des ressources. Les approches actuelles fournissent néanmoins des visions partielles, car dépendantes de données disponibles limitées, et ne reflètent pas les défis de la société en lien avec cette question des ressources.La méthode et les facteurs nouvellement développés fournissent une vision plus exhaustive de la disponibilité des ressources et peuvent être utilisés dans des analyses du cycle de vie ou dans des approches d'économie circulaire. Ce travail fut produit en partenariat avec le cd2e et le pôle de compétitivité Team². Il a également été réalisé en collaboration avec le bureau d’études et d’expertise en ACV, Cycleco
Increase in resource demand raises concerns over their availability. In the recent years, national and international institutions have targeted sustainable resource supply and new economy models (e.g. circular economy, etc.) as a goal of their short- and long-term strategies. In this context, different methodological approaches under Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework are used to address the impact of resource depletion. However, they provide partial visions, based on limited available data, and do not reflect society challenges related to the resources. The newly developed factors and the LCIA method provide a more exhaustive vision through the availability of resources and may be used in Life Cycle Assessment or circular economy approaches. This work is done in partnership with the cd2e and Team2 cluster. It is also carried out in collaboration with CYCLeco Life Cycle Assessment Experts

La literatura ha documentado que los países más abundantes en recursos naturales tienden a registrar menores tasas de crecimiento que los países con menos recursos. Este fenómeno se conoce como la maldición de los recursos naturales. No obstante, diversos estudios sugieren que esta maldición no es provocada por la afluencia de recursos, sino que podría estar condicionada a la calidad de las instituciones del país. La presente investigación busca determinar el impacto de la abundancia del sector extractivo minero y la calidad institucional sobre el crecimiento económico en el Perú. Para ello, se utiliza un set de datos de series de tiempo para el periodo 1996T1-2018T4. Siguiendo la metodología de Johansen y Juselius (1990), se estima un modelo basado en la ecuación planteada por Sachs y Warner (1995) a la que se incorpora una variable que mide el componente institucional. Los resultados muestran que la riqueza del sector minero no presenta un impacto negativo per se sobre el crecimiento económico en el largo plazo, rechazándose así la hipótesis de la maldición de recursos para el caso peruano. Sin embargo, cuando se incluye el concepto de calidad institucional al análisis, los resultados varían a favor de la validación de la hipótesis, demostrando que, no es la abundancia de recursos la condición que obra en detrimento del desempeño final del crecimiento económico sino la existencia de instituciones de mala calidad en el Perú.
The literature has documented that countries with more natural resources tend to have lower growth rates than countries with fewer resources. This phenomenon is known as the Resource Curse. However, various studies suggest that this curse is not caused by the influx of resources, but could be conditioned by the quality of the country's institutions. This paper seeks to determine the impact of the abundance of the mining extractive sector and institutional quality on economic growth in Peru. To do this, a set of time series data is used for the period 1996Q1-2018Q4. Following the methodology of Johansen and Juselius (1990), a model based on the equation proposed by Sachs and Warner (1995) is estimated, incorporating a variable that measures the institutional component. The results show that the wealth of the mining sector does not present a negative impact per se on economic growth in the long term, thus rejecting the hypothesis of the resource curse for the Peruvian case. However, when the concept of institutional quality is included in the analysis, the results vary in favor of the validation of the hypothesis, showing that it is not the abundance of resources that is detrimental to the final performance of economic growth, but rather the existence of poor quality institutions in Peru.
Trabajo de investigación

This thesis examines scientific, technological, and organizational innovations in Newfoundland's saltfish industry between 1887 and 1937. Since entering the orbit of European capital in the fifteenth century, Newfoundland's economy and society was organized around the export of saltfish (salted and dried cod) to consuming markets in Southern Europe and Latin America. By the nineteenth century, saltfish production was organized primarily around the small-scale fishing family financed by merchant capital. This mode of production consistently produced a large aggregate amount of saltfish of highly uneven quality. By the late-nineteenth century, however, this production system was placed under pressure as consumers in the key European markets demanded uniformly high quality saltfish, and Newfoundland's competitors began providing it. Using archival and secondary sources, this thesis examines attempts to improve and modernize saltfish production in Newfoundland over a fifty-year period, beginning with the formation of the first Fisheries Commission in 1887.I argue that saltfish producers had to confront and overcome "the problem of fluctuation." This refers to both the biogeophysical processes controlling the quantity of cod extracted (reproduction, predation, ocean dynamics, etc.) and the biogeophysical processes determining the quality of saltfish produced and consumed (decomposition, preservation, socio-biology of consumption). In contrast to many studies of the political economy of fishing, and inspired by agrarian political economy, I develop a theoretical framework called "aquarian political economy" that expands the analytical focus beyond extraction to include the entire circulation of capital. Between 1887 and 1937, I document a number of attempts at reshaping biogeophysical processes to suit the dynamics of capital accumulation in the "upstream" (pre-extraction) and "downstream" (post-extraction) phases of production. These innovations proceeded by way of introducing abstract, scientific forms of measure, which identified and helped render biogeophysical processes as amenable to human control. I define these innovations as moments in an expanded conception of the "real subsumption of nature under capital." Although many of these innovations and interventions were defined by false starts and only partial success, I conclude that this period witnessed a shift in the notion of expertise from practical experience on the ocean to techno-scientific managerial knowledge behind the desk. Through my empirical research and theoretical framework, this thesis makes a contribution to the political economy of fishing, critical resource geography, and the historical political economy of Newfoundland.

This thesis examines the compatibility of public international law with behavioral economic models on resource extraction, specifically those theories that express what tragedy and fears one ought to expect from such endeavors. The reason behind the analysis is to examine the rigidity and ability of the law to cope with resource extraction in outer space. As will be shown in this thesis, the law as it stands today is inadequate to cope with such fears for primarily four reasons. Firstly, the principle of freedom entitles States to exploit resources in outer space and can thus enable tragedy, i.e. overexploitation of resources. Secondly, sovereignty entitles States to act selfishly when extracting resources because sovereignty at its core amounts to a right for States to conduct any functions they see fit, as long as no violations of international law occur. Thirdly, States are not obliged to cooperate for the sake of resource management, since obligations to cooperate under customary law and treaty law do not stretch that far. And lastly, general international law is the channel for finding solutions in order to prevent tragedy to outer space as a resource domain, but at the present, there are no norms that can cope with the fears expressed in the discourse on the commons.

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The general objective of this thesis was to study the processing of maté Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil Lineage Cambona 4, a renewable natural resource of sustainable form of small farmers in the South of Brazil. An analysis becomes on the conception of the agricultural producers of the city of Machadinho-RS on environment and maté organic culture. A study of the mate processing is carried out initiating with the singeing, using units of laboratory, which consists one of the conventional stages in the maté processing. The contact time is determined to produce similar leaves to the ones of industrial processes. The best operational condition consisted of singeing per 5 minutes, operating the singer in the rotation of 80 rpm. The initial moisture content of maté leaves varied of 61,9 - 65.0% (db), and to the ending of singeing, under action of combustion gases GLP in the average temperature of 181oC, the moisture content it is reduced for 14,6% (db). The drying was carried out in vibrated tray drier, at the operations conditions: air flow in the temperature and velocity of 60oC and 0,64 m/s; amplitude and frequency of vibration, 0.5,10-3 m and 183 m rd/s, being Aù.2/g equal to 1,7; average specific area initial of maté leaves processed was 52,63 cm2/g. The convective coefficients of heat transfer had been quantified, in the operations of singeing and drying, being obtained the average values, 0,316 at 0,606 and 0,097 kJ/m2.min.oC, respectively. The extraction studies of soluble had been carried through the use of two techniques. The first method, agitation and mixing of maté triturated water, was effected at the temperature of 90oC. It was quantified that 50.7% of solids in the maté dehydrated are constituted by soluble, that were extracted in multiple stages of leaching. In only stage 37.1% of solids are extracted. The second method, with fixed bed of triturated maté, it was used an extractor with perforated chamber for draining of the extract. The experiments had been carried out with multiple extractions, each one with new amount of solvent. In only extraction, 35.5% of solids are extracted. The extract presented a solid concentration of 3,4 to 4,5%. Arabic gum was added to the extract in the concentrations of 0, 0,2; 0,4; 0,6; 0,8; 1,0; 1,5 and 2.0%, in relation to it solids content. The mixtures had been affected with the objective to study the influence of the Arabic gum in the drying and the flavor of drinks. The extracts had been processed in spray dryer at the average operations conditions: temperature and flow air: 190oC and 32.1 m3/h; extract feed at 340 mL/h. The moisture content of powder had varied from 1,8 to 6,6% (db). Sensorial analysis was carried out with three formulations at the concentrations: 0; 0,2 and 1,0% of Arabic gum. To the experimental results a statistical treatment was applied and was verified best preference for the formulations with 0.2% of the Arabian gum content. This showed the influence of the encapsulating agent in the aroma retention. The Arabian gum facilitated the powder separation in the cyclone. Concentrated of soluble of maté they were lyophylisated and obtained the lyophilisation curve. A study of caffeine traced was carried out during the processing. The caffeine determinations were effectuate in the: natura mate; singed maté; dried maté after the singeing and powder maté obtained by spray dryer. The losses of caffeine had been of: 33,6% in singeing 40,7% after the drying in vibrated tray; 62,2% after the spray drying. With soluble extracts of maté of spray drying and lyophilisation new products were developed: Mateccino mate mixing with chocolate ; maté candy and suggestions of fine drinks with maté extract. The economic feasibility study of a plant with capacity for processing 1,500 kg maté leaves/h, it showed: the necessity of: annual fixed capital investment of R$ 390.514,00; that the total annual product cost is of R$ 800.322,00; that the total income is of R$ 1512,000.00 and that the annual profit before taxes is of R$ 711.678,00.
O objetivo geral desta tese foi estudar o processamento de Erva-Mate Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil Progênie Cambona 4, um recurso natural renovável de forma sustentável para pequenos produtores rurais no Sul do Brasil. Fez-se uma análise sobre a concepção dos produtores rurais do município de Machadinho-RS sobre meio ambiente e cultivo orgânico de erva-mate. Fez-se um estudo do processamento de erva-mate iniciando com o sapeco, utilizando unidades de laboratório, o qual consiste em uma das etapas convencionais no processamento de erva-mate. Determina-se o tempo de contato para produzir folhas similares às de processos industriais. A melhor condição operacional consistiu no sapeco por 5 minutos, operando o sapecador na rotação de 80 rpm. O conteúdo de umidade inicial das folhas de erva-mate variou de 61,9 a 65,0% (bu), e ao término do sapeco, sob ação de gases de combustão de GLP na temperatura média de 181oC, o conteúdo de umidade se reduziu para 14,6% (bu). A secagem foi efetuada em secador de bandeja vibrada, nas condições de operação: ar escoando na temperatura e velocidade de 66oC e 0,64 m/s; amplitude e freqüência de vibração, 0,5.10-3 m e 183 rd/s, sendo Aù2/g igual a 1,7; área específica média inicial das folhas de erva-mate processadas de 52,63 cm2/g. Foram quantificados os coeficientes convectivos de transferência de calor, nas operações de sapeco e de secagem, obtendo-se os valores médios, 0,316 a 0,606 e 0,097 kJ/m2.min.oC, respectivamente. Os estudos de extração de solúveis foram realizados com utilização de duas técnicas. Na primeira, efetuou-se agitação e mistura de erva-mate triturada, com água na temperatura de 90oC. Quantificou-se que 50,7% dos sólidos da erva-mate desidratada são constituídos por solúveis, que foram extraídos em múltiplas etapas de lixiviação. Em única etapa são extraídos 37,1% dos sólidos. Na segunda, com leito fixo de erva-mate triturada, utilizou-se um extrator com câmara perfurada para escoamento do extrato. Os ensaios foram realizados com extrações múltiplas, cada uma com nova quantidade de solvente. Em extração única, foram extraídos 35,5% dos sólidos. O extrato obtido apresentou uma concentração de sólidos de 3,4 a 4,5%. Ao extrato foi adicionada goma arábica nas concentrações de 0; 0,2; 0,4; 0,6; 0,8; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0%, em relação aos sólidos contidos no mesmo. As misturas foram efetuadas com o objetivo de estudar a influência da goma arábica na secagem e no sabor das bebidas. Os extratos foram processados em secador por atomização nas condições operacionais médias: temperatura e vazão do ar: 190oC e 32,1 m3/h; alimentação de extrato a 340 mL/h. Os conteúdos de umidade do pó obtido variaram de 1,8 a 6,6%(bu). Efetuou-se análise sensorial de três formulações com concentrações: 0; 0,2 e 1,0% de goma arábica. Aos resultados experimentais aplicou-se tratamento estatístico e verificou-se maior preferência pela formulação contendo 0,2% de goma arábica, o que mostrou a influência do agente encapsulante na retenção de aromas. A goma arábica facilitou a captação do pó de erva-mate pelo ciclone do secador por atomização. Concentrados de solúveis de erva-mate foram liofilizados e determinou-se a curva de liofilização. Fez-se um estudo de rastreabilidade da cafeína, durante o processamento. As determinações de cafeína foram efetuadas em erva-mate in natura, sapecada, seguida de secagem e do extrato de erva-mate em pó obtido por spray dryer . As perdas acumuladas de cafeína foram de: 33,6% no sapeco; 40,7% após a secagem em bandeja vibrada; 62,2% após a secagem por atomização. Com os extratos solúveis de erva-mate secos por atomização e liofilização desenvolveram-se novos produtos: Mateccino achocolatado de erva-mate; balas de erva-mate e sugestões de drinks finos com percolado de erva-mate. O estudo de viabilidade econômica de uma planta com capacidade para processamento de 1.500 kg erva-mate/h, mostrou a necessidade de um capital de investimento fixo total de R$ 390.514,00; que o custo anual total do produto é de R$ 800.322,00; que a receita bruta é de R$ 1.512.000,00 e que o lucro bruto anual é de R$ 711.678,00.

This thesis examines the adaptation processes among mining equipment and technology services (METS) firms’ in the South Australian resource sector from 2014 till 2016 during a global downturn in resource commodity prices. Of special interest was the effect on the METS firms of the structure and governance of the resource industry regional supply network in terms of their ability to adapt to the downturn and the implications for regional resilience. The research was driven by the common problem faced by METS suppliers operating in resource extractive economies of how to prosper in spite of fluctuating mineral commodity prices. Downturns in commodity prices usually result in significant job losses, reduction in GDP growth and economic decline. It requires resilience at the firm and regional level to not only cope and recover from external shocks, but also to create new technological paths. Previous research into the regional development of resource-extractive regions has proved that the development of technology and knowledge intensive, value-adding industries around resource extractive activity enhances the resilience of resource economies. A diverse and technology intensive METS sector emerging naturally in proximity to resource extraction sites is potentially able to use its accumulated knowledge and capabilities to overcome the consequences of a decline. In the right environment, METS firms can develop high value-added products and services that can have other industrial applications and find new niches in domestic and overseas markets. The ability of local METS companies to diversify and innovate results in the lateral transfer of technologies developed initially to serve the resource sector, encouraging regional economic diversification and the development of alternative growth paths during a decline in the resource sector. Supply chain relationships are critical to the strategic diversification and innovation of regional METS experiencing resource constraints. Their ability to innovate and diversify depends not only on their own internal research and development efforts, but mostly on their collaboration with customers and supply chain partners around customer problems and solutions. Since there are multiple shared suppliers and clients, a regional supply network serves as a conduit for information and knowledge transfer. Our knowledge of the impact of the structure and governance in a regional supply network and firm diversification and innovativeness is still limited, however. There is a lack of conceptual explanation specific to how network governance in a regional supply network influences METS firms’ ability to respond during those periods when the whole network is experiencing constrained resources. To address this problem in the current research, a multilevel conceptual framework was developed, and a mixed-method research design adopted. The findings demonstrated that formal and informal instruments of regional supply network governance impact firms’ strategies and facilitates both short- term adaptation and the long-term adaptability of regional METS. The research contributes to the economic resilience literature by providing empirical evidence of the role of regional supply network structure and governance as factors influencing regional firms’ strategies at the micro-level. In turn, the strategies and behaviour of regional METS firms at the micro level impact adaptability and regional resilience at the meso-level. Therefore, a coordinated effort by governing bodies through policies and resource allocation is required to ensure the formation of well-connected, integrated regional supply networks that can foster long term adaptability and resilience in resource extractive regions.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation & Innovation Centre, 2018

ABSTRACT One of the surprising features of modern economic growth is that economies with abundant natural resources have tended to grow less rapidly than natural resource scarce economies. This paper demonstrates that countries with high levels of natural resource exports tend to grow slower than those countries that have fewer natural resource exports. However, when controlling for the quality of institutions, the effect can be reversed. It is has been found that all countries (regardless of the intensity of natural resource exports) perform better under „good‟ institutions than under „poor‟ institutions. Furthermore, the study examines the determinates of good institutions and finds that high levels of social and human capital are pre-requisites for strong institutions and good governance. The data therefore suggests that high stocks of human and social capital are possible cures to the resource curse. The study further concludes that although resource abundance is linked to slower levels of economic growth, countries should not turn a blind eye to their natural resources. They should however not depend on them too much as the benefits of resource based industrialisation and „forced‟ beneficiation are questioned. The study has implications for policy makers as it recommends that a blank page approach be taken when formulating a development strategy. In terms of institutional reform, the study examines various forms of government in Africa against economic success and finds that African countries perform better under democracies. This finding is likely linked to the mode of manifestation of the resource curse. In Africa, the resource curse seems to specifically manifest itself through the political economy (including systems of political patronage, conflict and security) and not through the effects of macro-economic instability (i.e. Dutch disease). Furthermore, a geographical study of institutions, human capital and economic performance suggests that good performance spills over into adjacent countries, thereby creating a case for increased regionalisation in Africa and recommends more bilateral trade and interdependency of African economies to spread good practices.