Author(s): Armand, Alex ; Coutts, Alexander ; Vicente, Pedro C. ; Vilela, Ines
Date: 2020
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/108171
Origin: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Subject(s): Economics and Econometrics; SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Natural resources can have a negative impact on the economy through corruption and civil conflict. This paper tests whether information can counteract this political resource curse. We implement a large-scale field experiment following the dissemination of information about a substantial natural gas discovery in Mozambique. We measure outcomes related to the behavior of citizens and local leaders through georeferenced conflict data, behavioral activities, lab-in-The-field experiments, and surveys. We find that information targeting citizens and their involvement in public deliberations increases local mobilization and decreases violence. By contrast, when information reaches only local leaders, it increases elite capture and rent-seeking.
