{
  "title": "An Alternative Explanation for the Resource Curse: The Income Effect Channel",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, May 1, 2009",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977/index.md",
  "summary": "The paper provides an alternative explanation for the \"resource curse\" based on the income effect resulting from high government current spending in resource rich economies.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Summary and main finding",
      "content": "- The paper provides an alternative explanation for the \"resource curse\" based on the income effect resulting from high government current spending in resource rich economies.\n- Using a simple life cycle framework, the authors show that private investment in the non-resource sector is adversely affected if private agents expect extra government current spending financed through resource sector revenues in the future.\n- This income channel of the resource curse is stronger for countries with lower degrees of openness and forward altruism.\n- The authors empirically validate these findings by estimating non-hydrocarbon sector growth regressions using a panel of 25 oil-exporting countries over 1992-2005."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Theoretical framework",
      "content": "- Model type: Simple life cycle framework.\n- Mechanism: Expected future government current spending financed by resource revenues raises private agents' perceived lifetime incomes, which reduces private investment in the non-resource sector (income effect).\n- Amplifying factors:\n  - Lower degree of openness increases the strength of the income channel.\n  - Lower forward altruism increases the strength of the income channel."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Empirical validation",
      "content": "- Data: Panel of 25 oil-exporting countries.\n- Sample period: 1992-2005.\n- Estimation focus: Non-hydrocarbon sector growth regressions.\n- Empirical result summary: The panel regressions validate the theoretical prediction that anticipated government current spending financed by resource revenues negatively affects non-resource private investment and growth."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and interpretation",
      "content": "- High government current spending financed by resource sector revenues can generate an income-effect channel that undermines private investment in non-resource sectors.\n- Policies aimed at mitigating the income effect could consider:\n  - Measures to reduce the volatility or predictability of government current spending tied to resource revenues.\n  - Policies that increase economic openness.\n  - Policies that affect intertemporal preferences or incentives for forward altruism.\n- Fiscal policy design in resource-rich economies should account for the income effect on private sector incentives when using resource revenues for current spending.\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Wp09112\n  - Wp09112 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Wp09112 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Ali Alichi, Rabah Arezki",
    "Published: May 1, 2009",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451872590.001",
    "The paper provides an alternative explanation for the \"resource curse\" based on the income effect resulting from high government current spending in resource rich economies.",
    "Using a simple life cycle framework, the authors show that private investment in the non-resource sector is adversely affected if private agents expect extra government current spending financed through resource sector revenues in the future.",
    "This income channel of the resource curse is stronger for countries with lower degrees of openness and forward altruism.",
    "The authors empirically validate these findings by estimating non-hydrocarbon sector growth regressions using a panel of 25 oil-exporting countries over 1992-2005.",
    "Model type: Simple life cycle framework.",
    "Mechanism: Expected future government current spending financed by resource revenues raises private agents' perceived lifetime incomes, which reduces private investment in the non-resource sector (income effect).",
    "Amplifying factors:",
    "Data: Panel of 25 oil-exporting countries.",
    "Sample period: 1992-2005.",
    "Estimation focus: Non-hydrocarbon sector growth regressions.",
    "Empirical result summary: The panel regressions validate the theoretical prediction that anticipated government current spending financed by resource revenues negatively affects non-resource private investment and growth.",
    "High government current spending financed by resource sector revenues can generate an income-effect channel that undermines private investment in non-resource sectors.",
    "Policies aimed at mitigating the income effect could consider:",
    "Fiscal policy design in resource-rich economies should account for the income effect on private sector incentives when using resource revenues for current spending.",
    "**Wp09112**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "Wp09112",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2009/_wp09112.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2009/_wp09112.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2009/_wp09112.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/an-alternative-explanation-for-the-resource-curse-the-income-effect-channel-22977/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-17T09:02:16.397Z"
}
