Re-examining the ‘Resource Curse’ Concept in Resource-Rich Post-Soviet States: The Cases of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan

Authors : Kenan Aslanlı, Ingilab Ahmadov

Pages : 143-174

Doi:10.17233/sosyoekonomi.2026.01.07

View : 239 | Download : 571

Publication Date : 2026-01-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The article reexamines the “resource curse” concept for the resource-rich post-Soviet states (RRPSSs), focusing on Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, both nations with substantial oil and gas reserves that significantly influenced their post-Soviet economic trajectories. The authors aim to explore the causes, effects, and transmission channels of the “resource curse” after 33 years (1991-2024) of independence and sovereignty in these countries. The article considers their specific institutional contexts, fiscal policy peculiarities, and economic performance, including GDP growth paths and levels of economic and export diversification. Besides economic growth, the study also examines the volatility of GDP growth in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, highlighting it as a noteworthy indicator or symptom of the “resource curse.” One key finding is that the defining feature of the economic growth trend in the resource-rich post-Soviet states, related to the “resource curse,” is not necessarily outperformance or underperformance but rather the volatility of real GDP growth relative to the long-term trends of less oil-dependent countries. The research employed various quantitative methods, including correlation analysis and comparative data analysis.
Keywords : Kaynak Laneti, Azerbaycan, Kazakistan, Post-Sovyet, Petrol, Gaz, Çeşitlendirme

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