Oil and Unbalanced Globalization
45 Pages Posted: 25 Aug 2011 Last revised: 1 May 2014
Date Written: March 28, 2013
Abstract
We demonstrate that oil wealth is associated with both high levels of economic and social integration and low levels of political integration – a condition we call “unbalanced globalization,” in contrast to more balanced globalization of other countries. We develop and examine three plausible explanations for it. First, oil wealth may retard democratization, which may in turn reduce political integration. Second, oil rich states are able to attract foreign investments and have access to world markets without tying their hands to institutions. Third, oil-rich states export an unusually narrow range of goods, which reduces domestic coalitions in favor of integration. Our evidence primarily points to the second and third mechanisms.
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