Transforming natural resource wealth into sustained growth and poverty reduction : a conceptual framework for Sub-Saharan African oil exporting countries

Oil and mineral revenues raise national savings and hence facilitate investment, capital accumulation, and sustained growth; thus, there are benefits of owning large natural resources. There can be a significant spillover effect from the oil sector to the non-oil sector particularly if governments are committed to bridge the infrastructure gap and promote the non-oil economy and foremost the non-oil tradable sector. Consequently, the capacity for coordinated policy formulation and execution is fundamental as well as sound windfall management mechanisms and institutions. This conceptual framework uses the case of Indonesia and the example of Norway to argue that the resource paradox is avoidable. Abundance should not be a curse, but rather a blessing for Sub-Saharan Africa's oil and mineral exporting countries. The country context and political economy matter a great deal but should not be the main driving forces behind windfall management, to avoid excessive rent-seeking activities, inefficiency, and wasteful spending. The EITI++ implementation can contribute to make a difference, mostly through capacity building, implementation assistance, and coordination support.Economic Theory&Research,Debt Markets,Currencies and Exchange Rates,,Access to Finance

Mineral-rich countries and dutch disease : understanding the macroeconomic implications of windfalls and the development prospects-the case of Equatorial Guinea

Referring to the original context of Dutch Disease, the term refers to the fears of de-industrialization that gripped the Netherlands as a result of the appreciation of the Dutch currency that followed the discovery of natural gas deposits. Expansion of petroleum exports in the 1960s not only crowded out other exports, it actually reduced other exports disproportionately and fueled the fears of dire consequences for Dutch manufacturing. In the case of Equatorial Guinea, the secondary sector represents about 2 percent of the gross domestic product, manufacturing represents less than 1 percent, and oil represents more than 95 percent. The negative impact of the Dutch Disease in this context would be limited given the structure of the economy and on the contrary may even be a good thing because it fuels the structural transformational process of the economy, which is needed in Equatorial Guinea. This paper argues that the ongoing Dutch Disease is a natural and necessary reallocation of resources in the economy of Equatorial Guinea. The magnitude of negative macroeconomic consequences of the Dutch Disease depends on the country's economic structure and stage of development. In a country where the manufacturing sector barely exists or where the non-oil primary sector is structurally deficient, as has been the case of Equatorial Guinea, there is little to fear about the disease. The oil boom is a blessing, given that oil revenues when properly managed can play a special and critical role in overall economic development and poverty reduction in low-income countries. To promote good governance in the management of the country's oil wealth, the government may wish to adhere to clear standards of accountability and transparency; especially by complying with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI++).Debt Markets,Economic Theory&Research,,Banks&Banking Reform,Currencies and Exchange Rates

Windfall management for poverty reduction : improving public finance Management-the case of Chad

This paper aims at providing a guide to ensure efficiency in the management of Chad's windfall to support the development process and poverty reduction. The analysis is based on the lessons and experience of countries that have successfully used natural-resource-generated windfalls to launch their development process while avoiding the natural resource curse. The paper also discusses the petroleum management arrangements in place in Chad for poverty reduction. The author argues that the successful management of Chad's windfall for poverty reduction will depend on the effectiveness of oil revenue management arrangements in place in Chad and the government's willingness to improve public finance management (PFM).Public Sector Expenditure Analysis&Management,Debt Markets,,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Banks&Banking Reform

Serapan Phospat Dan Pertumbuhan Bibit Kelapa Sawit Pada Tanah Ultisol Akibat Cendawan Mikoriza Abuskula

One of the disadvantages of oil palm development is the limitedness of fertile soil. A constraint faced by both big plantation and small holders is the high cost of crop maintenance. Around 60% of the total crop maintenance is used for fertilizing the crop. This study aims at finding out phosphate absorbtion and the growth of oil palm seedling with the addition of Arbuscullar Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and different dosages of phosphate fertilizer. A factorial Complete Randomized Design with three replications has been used. The first factor was the addition of AMF consisting of three levels: M0=0 g AMF polybag-1, M1=5 g AMF polybag -1, and M2 = 10 g AMF polybag -1. The second factor was the addition of four levels of phosphate using TCP-36: P0= 0 g TCP-36 polybag-1, P =15 g TCP-36 polybag-1, P2=30 g TCP-36 polybag-1, and P3=45 g TCP-36 polybag-1. Results showed that the Application of 10 g AMF polybag-1was able to increase P-absorbtion and the growth of oil palm seeding such as fresh crown weight, dry crown weight, fresh root weight, dry and root weight. Application of 45 g TCP-36 polybag -1was able to increase the growth such as plant height, dry crown weight, fresh root weight, and dry root weight

Matière organique et transformations structurales superficielles dans un sol ferrallitique rouge de la zone forestière du Cameroun

Les sols ferrallitiques modaux de la zone forestière du sud Cameroun présentent, dans la partie supérieure du profil, un horizon plus compact résultant de la dégradation de la structure initiale en microagrégats et d'une illuviation de l'argile. Cette étude vise à établir les relations entre les différenciations morphologiques et organiques se produisant dans cet horizon. Il semble que la matière organique agisse directement en développant une acidité qui favorise le lessivage de l'argile lorsqu'elle est faible, l'altération de l'hématite et des argiles lorsqu'elle est plus élevé

Estimation of fuel cell operating time for prédictive maintenance strategies

International audienceOne of the limiting factors for the spreading of the fuel cell technology is the durability and researches to extend their lifetime are being done world-widely. We present here a pattern recognition approach aiming to estimate fuel cell operating time based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. It consists in first extracting features from the impedance spectrum. For that purpose, two approaches have been investigated. In the first one, particular points of the spectrum are empirically extracted as features. In the second approach, a parametric modelling is performed to extract features from both the real and the imaginary parts of the impedance spectrum. In particular, a latent regression model is used to automatically split the spectrum into several segments that are approximated by polynomials. The number of segments is adjusted taking account the a priori knowledge about the physical behaviour of fuel cell components. Then, a linear regression model using different subsets of extracted features is employed for the estimation of fuel cell operating time. The performances of the proposed approach are evaluated on experimental data set to show its feasibility. Being able to estimate the fuel cell operating time, and consequently its remaining duration life, these results could lead to interesting perspectives for predictive maintenance policy of fuel cells

Peningkatan Mutu Kompos Kiambang MelaluiAplikasi Teknologi Hayati Dan Kotoran Ternak Sapi

Kiambang (Salvinia natans) which a water plant became a seriously problem in the use of Reservoir Batutegi, because nearly 80% of its surface covered by Salvinia natans. The presence of highly abundant of Salvinia natans have highly potential to be used as a source of organic fertilizer. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the application of biological technology (decomposers) and cow manure on the quality of the resulting compost kiambang. This study used randomized block design and experiment arranged in factorial 4 x 4 with three replications. The first factor was the dose of decomposers which consists of 4 levels, namely A1 = 0 ml, A2 = 20 ml, 30 ml dose = A3, and A4 = 40 ml decomposers per quintal kiambang respectively. The second factor was the dose of cattle dung, i.e. B1 = 0 kg, B2 = 10 kg, 20kg = B3, and B4 = 30 kg manure per quintal kiambang. The results showed the compost that has the best quality in terms of physical and chemical compost was the compost derived from the treatment of 30 ml and 40 ml decomposers per quintal kiambang which combined with 10 kg, 20 kg or 30 kg manure per quintal kiambang

A Right to Democracy in International Law: Its Implications for Asia

This paper will first look at the traditional concept of sovereignty and the undemocratic features of traditional international law. It will then discuss the development of democratic governance in the United Nations and regional international organisations, as well as the pro-democratic interventions in international law. Moreover, the paper will critically analyse the recent claims by prominent international legal scholars that a right to democracy is now emerging in international law and that all communities are entitled to democratic rules of governance. It will then consider whether, and to what extent, the notion of democratic entitlement has crystallised into a customary rule of international law. The paper will finally assess the implications of the right to democracy on Asian cultural and social values. The aim of this paper is not to provide any definitive answers, but to raise some questions relevant to future debate on the emergence of democratic entitlement