This study explains the emergence of the Sicilian mafia in the XIX century as the product of the interaction between natural resource abundance and weak institutions. We advance the hypothesis that the mafia emerged after the collapse of the Bourbon Kingdom in a context characterized by a severe...

Why is natural resource exploitation not yielding greater benefits for the poor economies? In this second edition of his landmark book, Barbier explores this paradox in three parts. Part I gives a historical review of resource use and development, examining current theories that explain the...

Introduction -- Natural resources and developing countries: an overview -- Natural resource-based economic development in history -- Does natural resource dependence hinder economic development? -- Frontier expansion and economic development -- Explaining land use change in developing countries...