The Impact of Natural Resources on the Development of Countries

Natural resources are expected to be the basis for development due to the economic, export value as well as the ability to become the raw materials of different industries. Therefore, the present study aims to study the effects of natural resources on the development of 12 countries that have different levels of development and various degrees of natural resource utilization in a comparative approach using several indicators. The final goals of this article is to reach theoretical conclusion about the impact of natural resources on the development of the countries. In the present study, qualitative comparative analysis method has been used as a means of quantitative and qualitative research and a powerful tool to analyze the causal complexities. Therefore, four phases of data fuzzy, formation of values table, a method to analyze the variables using complex causality and validation of the results of the research were considered. From the viewpoint of the horizons, the research is of a longitudinal nature, since, unlike a cross sectional study that is unique to a specific time period, in this research, the main themes have been considered over 150 years. Overall research results show that many countries, while having natural resources, have not achieved development due to the low level of other indicators. Few countries such as the United States have reached a higher level of development, using natural resources and benefiting from other indicators, such as literacy and democracy. Oil as one of the natural resources in the second study period has had a significant impact on development, but in the third period, the role of industrialization and import of energy resources in combination with efficient and effective government management justifies the development model of countries through the level of literacy and democracy. In sum, natural resources, if aligned with the level of technology, provide a higher level of development, otherwise it will reduce developmental dependence and economic rent.