Book cover of The Oil Curse: How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations

Book description

Countries that are rich in petroleum have less democracy, less economic stability, and more frequent civil wars than countries without oil. What explains this oil curse? And can it be fixed? In this groundbreaking analysis, Michael L. Ross looks at how developing nations are shaped by their mineral wealth--and how…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Oil Curse as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is an academic book that might knock your socks off. Ross shows why countries with lots of oil are more likely to suffer from dictators, civil wars, and worse economies—and even why they’re worse for women than for men.

Could oil become a blessing instead of a curse in these countries? Read Ross to find out.

From Leif's list on why oil is a curse.

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