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Have the government policy of resource-rich economies in managing wealth succeeded in diversifying these economies and, in doing so, prevented them from being trapped by a Dutch Disease? Contributed to this symposium papers examine these issues in the settings of Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and several other Central Asian countries. They assess SWFs' rules and performance by comparing them against best practice, review government policies in channeling wealth towards other (non) oil (or other natural resource) sectors via financial institutions and evaluate those funds' stabilizing and systemic roles during recent financial crisis. Comparative Economic Studies (2011) 53, 79-82. doi: 10.1057/ces.2010.25; published online 2 December 2010 Keywords: natural resources, sovereign wealth funds, transition economies JEL Classifications: Q3, Q4, O13, P28, This Symposium discusses issues that are very relevant for many transition economies, economies issues with respect to natural resource management. Intergenerational wealth maximization implies transforming oil or other natural resource [...]

The economic impact of resource abundance depends upon many factors. The literature emphasises that point resources are more likely to lead to rent-seeking than diffuse resources (Isham et al., 2003). [...]

In the Indian state of Goa, communally owned agricultural land has persisted through indigenous state rule, colonial occupation and postcolonial liberation. We show that in Goa, and indeed elsewhere in the world, communally owned land provides protection against scarcity, risk, and state revenue demands in wet rice agriculture. When wet rice agriculture is the primary agricultural activity, communally owned land is an effective way to utilize resources. These findings add to the literature that challenges the inevitability of the tragedy of commonly owned resources. KEY WORDS: cultural ecology; India; agriculture; communal resources.

An agreement was reached in designating the Karanambu ranch in the northern Rupununi savannah, Guyana, as a protected area. So as not to infringe upon the Amerindian land rights associated with designated protected areas, interested parties agreed to establish a research station and small nature reserve for visiting scientist and ecotourists. Wildlife farming will provide employment and economic opportunities for the local communities.

Increasingly ecologists have recognized the importance of sudden and unexpected changes in the natural environment - often called 'surprises.' Organizational scholars have not developed a theory of how to avoid ecological surprise. This article suggests one way to develop such a theory. Using ecology, systems analysis, and a historical comparisons of four communities, the article concludes that organizing and managing natural resources in part as community property can play a central role in avoiding surprises. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

The Panzhihua-Xichang Comprehensive Resource Development Zone in the southwest Sichuan Province will become one of China's largest raw material bases. The 29,600-square-km zone has China's second largest reserves of iron ore, particularly V-Ti-magnetite ore, the world's largest reserves of titanium and third largest reserves of vanadium. 35 million kw. hydro-energy resources are available, along with prospects of discovering other nonferrous minerals, coal and rock salt. Moreover, 300 agricultural varieties can be produced, and 860,000 hectares of wasteland are available for development.