Located in north central Asia, Mongolia is on the verge of an economic boom as foreign investors extract and exploit its rich deposits of natural resources, among them copper, gold, and coal. But the onset of a mining boom in Mongolia has also generated widespread concerns about the potential damage to traditional agriculture and the environment, the lack of infrastructure and water resources, and the dangers of increased economic inequality, inflation, fiscal instability, corruption, and lack of transparency. The reelection of President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj on June 26, 2013, provides an opportunity to reassess how the country has fared in dealing with the mining boom and identify the best policy options to avoid the "resource curse."
