UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Murphy, Kathleen Ann
Dept./Program:
Natural Resources
Year:
2009
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
The resource curse refers to the link between abundant natural resources and low economic growth and conflict development. International efforts to break this link and encourage growth and development have focused on the political processes behind the resource curse, namely a lack of transparency in the global extractive industries. Peru is one of thirteen candidate countries of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative CEITI). Privatization and expansion of the mining sector have prompted social movements centered on issues of land ownership, corruption, and environmental degradation. International pressure led to the creation of Peru's first Environmental Ministry in 2007. My research seeks to understand how transparency in the extractive industries (independent variable) affects environmental performance (dependent variable).
An initial scoping analysis was performed to gauge any relationship between these two factors using Yale's Environmental Performance Index. Peru emerged as a particularly interesting case from this analysis. Interviews were conducted in Peru with business, civil society and government leaders in order to investigate the potential processes by which transparency could affect environmental performance. Initial tracing of processes in this regard suggests that transparency in the extractive industries could improve environmental performance via improvements in GDP and the management of resource revenues as well as the elevation of more environmentally sustainable development views, results that rely heavily on the strength and participation of civil society.
An initial scoping analysis was performed to gauge any relationship between these two factors using Yale's Environmental Performance Index. Peru emerged as a particularly interesting case from this analysis. Interviews were conducted in Peru with business, civil society and government leaders in order to investigate the potential processes by which transparency could affect environmental performance. Initial tracing of processes in this regard suggests that transparency in the extractive industries could improve environmental performance via improvements in GDP and the management of resource revenues as well as the elevation of more environmentally sustainable development views, results that rely heavily on the strength and participation of civil society.