The Prohibitionist Curse.

AuthorMartino, Joseph P.
PositionLetters - Letter to the editor

In "The Prohibitionist Curse" (March), Matt Welch mentions the "resource curse" that seems to afflict nations "blessed" with abundant resources. This has in the past also been referred to as the "oil curse" since it seems to afflict oil-rich nations in particular.

There is no mystery here. Anyone driving through the shale-gas region of Western Pennsylvania will see the roads lined with billboards bearing the message: "Sell us the rights to the gas under your land." In America, if you find oil or gas under your land, you get rich. Elsewhere in the world, if you find oil or gas under your land, you are dispossessed without compensation, and the...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT