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Why is Africa still rich in resources but poor in roads, power, and public infrastructure? This book tackles one of the continent’s biggest paradoxes: the “natural resource curse.” Using data from 52 African economies between 2005–2022 and advanced Pooled OLS and Dynamic System GMM techniques, the study investigates how resource rent affects infrastructural development and how governance institutions shape this relationship. The findings reveal that resource rent significantly hampers infrastructural development across Africa, a pattern that holds for oil rent, coal rent, and forest rent. The study also shows that weak governance institutions worsen the negative impact of resource rent, while stronger, more transparent institutions can moderate the damage and help convert resource wealth into tangible infrastructure. These results highlight a clear policy message: without institutional reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and better resource management, increased resource revenue alone will not deliver sustainable infrastructure. This book provides rigorous evidence and practical recommendations for African policymakers, development agencies, investors, and researchers committed to achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development on the continent.
