One of the most studied issues regarding the role of natural resources in development is the so-called “resource curse,” the paradoxical (and contested) situation in which a state with abundant resources has low rates of economic growth per capita, high levels of income inequality, low levels of democracy, high gender inequality, and high levels of domestic and international conflicts that surround resources. Although the term implies all resources, most research by political scientists as well as economists and other social scientists examines the role of oil and hard minerals, leaving out many resources, including renewable energy resources. We argue that many of the causal mechanisms behind the curse, when it does manifest, hold for water-abundant states who have sufficient resources to create large hydroelectric projects. Drawing on illustrative examples of hydroelectric projects around the world, we demonstrate sufficient, albeit preliminary, evidence that most aspects of the resource curse literature apply to hydroelectric projects, at least in some states, and thus suggest the curse literature should be expanded to include water-abundance. In addition, we add a new factor, variable fuel supply, which could be an important factor for other resources as well. We conclude with suggestions for developing a research agenda and note a number of policy implications.

中文翻译：

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国际政治经济与可再生能源：水力发电与资源诅咒

关于自然资源在发展中的作用，研究最多的问题之一是所谓的“资源诅咒”，即资源丰富的国家人均经济增长率低、经济水平高的矛盾（和有争议的）情况。收入不平等、民主程度低、性别不平等程度高，以及围绕资源的高度国内和国际冲突。尽管该术语意味着所有资源，但政治科学家以及经济学家和其他社会科学家的大多数研究都考察了石油和硬矿物的作用，而忽略了许多资源，包括可再生能源。我们认为，诅咒背后的许多因果机制，当它出现时，都适用于拥有足够资源来创建大型水电项目的水资源丰富的国家。借鉴世界各地水电项目的说明性例子，我们证明了充分的（尽管是初步的）证据表明资源诅咒文献的大多数方面适用于水电项目，至少在某些州，因此建议诅咒文献应该扩展到包括水-丰富。此外，我们添加了一个新因素，可变燃料供应，这也可能是其他资源的重要因素。最后，我们提出了制定研究议程的建议，并指出了一些政策含义。此外，我们添加了一个新因素，可变燃料供应，这也可能是其他资源的重要因素。最后，我们提出了制定研究议程的建议，并指出了一些政策含义。此外，我们添加了一个新因素，可变燃料供应，这也可能是其他资源的重要因素。最后，我们提出了制定研究议程的建议，并指出了一些政策含义。