Good governance of natural resources: qualitative comparative analysis of institutional factors

This dissertation addresses the issue of mineral resource management, with a particular focus on the role of institutional frameworks. The main objective was to identify key institutional factors—or their combinations—that contribute to effective resource governance and ensure that mineral extraction supports long-term and sustainable economic development. The study applies the method of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), which allows for the examination of complex interactions among variables. The analysis is based on data from the Resource Governance Index (RGI) and focuses on the relationships between institutional environments and two core dimensions of resource governance: value realization and revenue management. The findings indicate that high levels of accountability, transparency, and other institutional aspects (such as government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption) are critical for achieving better governance outcomes. In contrast, political stability and absence of violence were found to be irrelevant conditions. A case study of Peru demonstrates the practical applicability of the identified best practices—Peru achieves above-average results in terms of transparency and accountability, though challenges remain, particularly in context of corruption control. The dissertation concludes that institutional quality plays a fundamental role in transforming natural resource wealth into lasting development benefits. The research offers deeper insight into the linkages between institutional settings and resource governance and provides practical recommendations for improving governance in the extractive sector.