Project title

Transparency, identity, and governance of high-value natural resources (TIGRe)

Intuitively, valuable natural resources - including oil, gemstones, minerals, and timber - should provide opportunities to escape poverty, to develop economically, and to sustain peace. Paradoxically, evidence shows that the opposite has often been the case as such resources often are a source of unusually large rents that, without mitigating safeguards, provide incentives for crony capitalism, patronage, and corruption. To combat corruption and to increase participation, equitability, and accountability in governance of valuable natural resources in poor but resource-rich countries, the international community and advocacy groups have been promoting transparency. This project examines how increased transparency can help to transform natural resource riches in developing countries into a blessing rather than a curse. The project results will potentially have profound implications for donor and national policy and practice in resource-rich countries.