Unit 1 Questions
Please answer each of the following questions. If you are taking this course in a group you may then meet to discuss your answers.
- How does Parliament conduct its legislative function regarding the extractive industries sector in your country? Is it active? What are the most urgent current issues? What are the most important pieces of legislation regarding the extractive industries sector? Is there a mining or oil code? Is legislation of the sector scattered among different pieces of legislation? Does this create problems, i.e. do some pieces of legislation contradict? Is it possible to map this out?
- How does Parliament conduct its representative function regarding the extractive industries sector in your country? Are there MPs that represent areas with extractive industries? Are they active on the topic? Which other MPs show interest on the topic? Are they up to date?
- How does Parliament conduct its oversight function regarding the extractive industries sector in your country? Is there a committee that focuses on natural resources or extractive industries? What about a Public Accounts Committee? What are currently the most important issues
- Is there a committee on extractive industries/natural resources? How does the committee function? Is the committee up to date? Does it regularly request information from relevant government departments? What are other sources of information the committee uses? Does it work together with civil society organizations, universities, or think tanks? Has it held hearings? Which other committees deal with (parts of) the extractive industries sector? Is there overlap? Do these committees regularly exchange information among each other? Are there certain aspects regarding the EI sector that do not fall under any committee’s responsibility? Do the committees create a platform for their findings through engagement with the media?
Relevant Internet Resources
The Natural Resource Charter: http://www.naturalresourcecharter.org/
Parliamentary Strengthening: http://www.parliamentarystrengthening.org/
Select Bibliography
IMF (2007), “Can the Natural Resource Curse Be Turned into a Blessing? The role of Trade Policies and Institutions”
National Democratic Institute (2007). “Transparency and accountability in Africa’s Extractive Industries: The role of the legislature.” NDI
R. Stapenhurst, V. Sahgal, W. Woodley, R. Pelizzo. (2005). “Scrutinizing Public Expenditures. Assessing the performance of public accounts committees.” World Bank Institute Policy Research Working Paper 3613.
R. Torvik. (2009). “Why do some resource-abundant countries succeed while others do not?” Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 25(2), pp. 241-56. Oxford University Press.
A. Wiig. “Natural Resource Governance in Africa – an evaluation of current donor programs.” Paper presented at the South African Institute of International Affairs Conference, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 26 November 2008.
R. Arezki, F. van der Ploeg. (2007). “Can the Natural Resource Curse be Turned Into a Blessing? The Role of Trade Policies and Institutions”. IMF Working Paper 07/55
M. Ross (2003) “The Natural Resource Curse: How Wealth Can Make You Poor”, in Natural Resources and Violent Conflict: Options and Actions, Ian Bannon and Paul Collier eds., World Bank |
