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Open research questions in Natural Resources and Economic Development

141 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,265 Natural Resources and Economic Development papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • These partnerships will leverage initiatives like the Global Gateway to strengthen Europe's role in global green markets, though their success remains uncertain amid global competition.

    The Design of Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships · 2025 · DOI

  • However, this research is limited by the use of secondary data and potential measurement biases, suggesting the need for primary data in future studies.

    Revealing major macroeconomic growth factors for an emerging economy: evidence from half-century of economic resilience · 2025 · DOI

  • While the necessity of this transition is clear, the optimal pathways for implementation remain debated.

    How can the “resource curse” be broken? Transition factor flows, the urban life cycle and value chain upgrades in resource-based cities · 2025 · DOI

  • The sub-national distributional consequences of the hilirisasi mandate remained critically underexplored prior to this study. Prior studies have not examined the specific role of resource nationalist industrial policies in generating spatially differentiated economic outcomes.

    Resource Nationalism, Enclave Industrialization, and Regional Divergence: A Spatial Econometric Assessment of Indonesia's Hilirisasi Mandate · 2026 · DOI

  • While aggregate indicators documented substantial Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into metallurgical industrial parks, the sub-national distributional consequences remained critically underexplored prior to this study.

    Resource Nationalism, Enclave Industrialization, and Regional Divergence: A Spatial Econometric Assessment of Indonesia's Hilirisasi Mandate · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the literature regarding the evaluation of crude oil exports and local refining in Libya. The paper highlights the need for a qualitative approach to evaluate the sustainability of both strategies.

    An Evaluation of Libya's Crude Oil Export Dynamics and Domestic Refining Capacity · 2026 · DOI

  • Advantages of Investing in Local Processing This study acknowledges several limitations: 1) Data Availability: Political instability in Libya hinders access to reliable and up - to - date data. 2) Economic Variability: Fluctuations in global oil prices and domestic conflicts complicate the assessment of long - term benefits. 3) Generalizability: Findings may not apply to other oil - producing countries due to differing political, economic, and social contexts. 4) Dynamic Market Conditions: Geopolitical events and technological advancements can alter the attractiveness of export versus local processing strategies.

    An Evaluation of Libya's Crude Oil Export Dynamics and Domestic Refining Capacity · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies administrative bottlenecks as a major challenge in combating corruption in Chhattisgarh. The study highlights crony capitalism as another challenge that undermines the state's fight against corruption. The paper argues that the lack of autonomy and effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies is a major challenge.

    Legal Frameworks and Enforcement Mechanisms Combatting Corruption in Chhattisgarh, India · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws in Chhattisgarh. The study highlights the need for a more autonomous and effective anti-corruption agency in the state.

    Legal Frameworks and Enforcement Mechanisms Combatting Corruption in Chhattisgarh, India · 2026 · DOI

  • Existing studies rely on empirical political economy, lacking dynamic strategic modeling. The federal-state interaction is hierarchical and dynamic, but previous studies have not used a dynamic Stackelberg differential game framework to investigate this interaction.

    DYNAMIC OPTIMAL CONTROL OF OIL REVENUE ALLOCATION AND RENT-SEEKING UNDER FISCAL FEDERALISM: A STACKELBERG DIFFERENTIAL GAME ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA · 2026 · DOI

  • The tendency to separate formal institutions from the coalitions that animate them. The lack of understanding of how patronage-based SOE equilibrium structures political order.

    From National Oil Company to Patronage Machine? Nilepet and the Governance Politics of South Sudan's Oil Sector · 2026 · DOI

  • A gap in understanding the relationship between socioeconomic development, state sovereignty, and geopolitical disputes over energy resources exists. The imperialistic nature of international relations is not fully understood.

    RIQUEZA EM RECURSOS E TRANSFORMAÇÃO SOCIAL: A EXPERIÊNCIA LÍBIA ANTES DA INTERVENÇÃO · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could explore the implications of the paper's findings for policymakers in resource-rich countries. Future research could examine the relationship between natural resource abundance and economic development in different contexts.

    Natural resource curse versus Dutch disease: the explanatory primacy of New Developmentalism over the paradox of plenty · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the existing literature on the paradox of plenty. The paper argues that the neo-institutionalist literature and the neoclassical model of Dutch disease do not provide a comprehensive explanation of the paradox.

    Natural resource curse versus Dutch disease: the explanatory primacy of New Developmentalism over the paradox of plenty · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for a política industrial mais direcionada. The lack of investimentos voltados ao futuro da infraestrutura, do capital humano, e do setor energético.

    The financialization of the energy transition in Brazil: between de-risking and development · 2026 · DOI

  • Illicit financial flows undermine development prospects. Weak governance and regulatory gaps exacerbate vulnerabilities. The extractive sector is a significant driver of illicit financial flows.

    The extractive sector and illicit financial flows in Africa: mechanisms and policy implications for transparency and governance · 2026 · DOI

  • The extractive sector has been overlooked as a driver of illicit financial flows. There is a lack of research on the transmission mechanisms of illicit financial flows.

    The extractive sector and illicit financial flows in Africa: mechanisms and policy implications for transparency and governance · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the challenge of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in developing economies. The study identifies the need for appropriate institutional frameworks to harness the benefits of FDI.

    Role of Institution in FDI and Energy Consumption Relationship in Developing Economies: A Case of Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the literature on the relationship between FDI and energy consumption in Nigeria. The study highlights the need for further research on the moderating effect of institutional quality on the relationship between FDI and energy consumption.

    Role of Institution in FDI and Energy Consumption Relationship in Developing Economies: A Case of Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a gap in the literature on the comprehensive macroeconomic impact of the Petroleum Industry Act. Prior studies have focused on sector-specific outcomes and institutional reforms.

    Petroleum Industry Act and Investment in Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies the gap in the current literature on the politics of privatization and commercialization of public enterprises in Nigeria. The study argues that the current literature does not adequately address the issue of conflicting objectives of public enterprises.

    Privatization And Commercialization of Public Enterprises in Nigeria: A Reflection of The Preferences of The Ruling Elites · 2026 · DOI

  • The natural resources sector in Nigeria is under-researched in the capital structure literature. There is a need to examine the relationship between capital structure and financial performance of natural resource firms in Nigeria.

    Capital structure and financial performance of listed natural resource firms in Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • The study makes the following recommendations; i. ii. Natural resource firms should prioritize the use of short-term leverage to drive the efficiency of their assets. This will enable them to quickly adjust when commodity prices fluctuate, rather than being encumbered by non-current borrowing expense. They should moderate the use of the debt-equity mix in funding their operations, particularly due to incessant price fluctuations in resource prices. This will enable firms to avoid excessive fixed interest obligations and serious financial distress. https://doi.org/10.33003/fujafr-2026.v4i2.374.163-172 170 Markjackson & Moses (2026). Capital structure and financial performance of listed natural resource firms in Nigeria . iii. Since long-term leverage is positive and insignificant, firms in the sector should use long-term leverage sparingly. This is because it exerts a benign effect on AER compared to higher borrowing expenses.

    Capital structure and financial performance of listed natural resource firms in Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • The state's dependence on oil revenue weakens its interest in solid minerals. The existing state-level instruments for mineral revenue collection are perceived as ineffective. The study highlights the need for the state to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenue.

    Political Economy of Solid Minerals Governance in Nasarawa State, Nigeria: A Rentier State Analysis (1999 - 2020) · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the literature on the political economy of solid minerals governance in Nasarawa State. The study highlights the need for further research on the impact of external oil rents on subnational incentives to exploit local mineral wealth.

    Political Economy of Solid Minerals Governance in Nasarawa State, Nigeria: A Rentier State Analysis (1999 - 2020) · 2026 · DOI

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141 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,265 Natural Resources and Economic Development papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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