The local socioeconomic effects of gold mining: Evidence from Ghana

Dabalen, Andrew; Chuhan-Pole, Punam; Kotsadam, Andreas; Tolonen, Anja; Sanoh, Aly

doi:10.1016/j.exis.2019.07.008

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…Drawing on this comprehensive understanding of health retrieved from affected communities expands the existing quantitative literature pertained to health risk, health determinants or health outcomes of interest. Indeed, recurrent thematic aspects reported in our study have been studied in previous research, including environmental [ 14 , 15 ], social [ 18 , 39 ] or economic [ 10 , 35 , 40 ] determinants of health. While several studies report potential health benefits [ 10 , 41 ], negative aspects tend to prevail in studies synthesising health literature [ 18 , 42 , 43 ], which is in line with our findings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Studies measuring health conditions of local communities [e.g. 10 , 41 , 45 ] might have missed important aspects for the health and well-being as perceived by affected populations themselves. For example, health effects caused by cracks in the houses related to blasting and cultural dimensions of health have to our best knowledge received little attention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health impacts of industrial mining on surrounding communities: Local perspectives from three sub-Saharan African countries

et al. 2021

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Industrial mining projects can play an important role in global sustainable development if associated health risks are minimised and opportunities maximised. While a broad body of evidence from quantitative studies exists that establishes the interlinkages between mining operations and effects on public health, little research has been conducted investigating health impacts from the perspective of affected communities. This is particularly true in sub-Saharan Africa, where about a third of the remaining global mineral resources are endowed and health-related indicators for sustainable development are lagging behind. In this multi-country qualitative study, we explore community perceptions regarding impacts of industrial mining on their health and well-being. In nine study sites in Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Tanzania, we conducted 83 participatory focus group discussions with a total of 791 participants (385 men, 406 women). Our findings reveal a broad range of perceived impacts on environmental, economic and social determinants of health, with secondary health implications related to morbidity, mortality and well-being. Overall, perceived negative impacts prevailed, mainly related to environmental pollution, change in livelihoods or social disruption. Perceived positive impacts on health and well-being were related to interventions implemented by the mines such as new or improved water sources, health care facilities, roads and schools. The consistency of these findings across countries and study sites suggests a structural problem and indicates a pressing need to address health by acting on the wider determinants of health in mining regions. Participatory health impact assessment should be strengthened in host countries to foster strategic interventions, include marginalised population groups, and protect and promote the health of local communities. By including community perspectives on health before and during project implementation, policymakers can take advantage of economic opportunities while avoiding the pitfalls, bringing their communities closer to achieving good health and well-being goals by 2030 and beyond.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health impacts of industrial mining on surrounding communities: Local perspectives from three sub-Saharan African countries

et al. 2021

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“…Benshaul-Tolonen (2019a) and Benshaul-Tolonen et al (2019) showed that the effect of a mine can be heterogeneous between men and women. To explore this form of heterogeneity, we run all specifications separately by sex.…”

Section: Individual-level Difference-in-differencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much of the literature on natural resources is focused on the macroeconomic effects, but a growing literature is now also concerned with the local effects (see, for example, Aragón et al 2015;Aragón and Rud 2013;Axbard et al 2016;Benshaul-Tolonen 2019b;Benshaul-Tolonen et al 2019;Caselli and Michaels 2013;Kotsadam and Tolonen 2016;Loayza et al 2013;von der Goltz and Barnwal 2019;Wilson 2012). Aragón et al (2015) provided a comprehensive summary of the theory and empirical literature on the local impact of natural resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In their sample of 800 mines in 44 developing countries, they found that proximity to an active mine increased households' asset wealth by 0.3 standard deviations, but anaemia among women and stunting in children increased by 10 and 5 per cent, respectively. Benshaul-Tolonen et al (2019) analysed the impact of gold mines in Ghana. They found that men living close to an active mine were more likely to benefit directly from employment as miners than men living further away and that women living close to a mine benefited through indirect employment opportunities and cash for work earnings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The socioeconomic impact of coal mining in Mozambique

Egger¹,

Keller²,

Mouco³

2021

WIDER Working Paper

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Mining revenues and quality of public goods in sub‐Saharan Africa

Bertinelli

Bourgain

2023

J of Intl Development

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In this paper, we investigate the impact of public mining revenues on perception indicators of public goods quality in five mining countries that have recently experienced a boom in their government revenues: Burkina Faso, Ghana, D.R. Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. The effect of the tax revenue boom is identified using a difference‐in‐differences estimation. Our estimations indicate that people living in mining regions have a sense of structural disadvantage in terms of the provision of public goods; however, this perception is pro‐cyclical in the presence of revenue booms/busts. Our results hold even after taking into account the possible endogeneity of our measure of resource revenue.

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The local socioeconomic effects of gold mining: Evidence from Ghana

Cited by 21 publications

References 23 publications

Health impacts of industrial mining on surrounding communities: Local perspectives from three sub-Saharan African countries

Health impacts of industrial mining on surrounding communities: Local perspectives from three sub-Saharan African countries

The socioeconomic impact of coal mining in Mozambique

Mining revenues and quality of public goods in sub‐Saharan Africa

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