Premium
The transformation and successful development of small‐scale mining enterprises in developing countries
Author(s) -
Davidson Jeffrey
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/j.1477-8947.1993.tb00192.x
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , developing country , business , scale (ratio) , welfare , socioeconomic status , economic transformation , function (biology) , economic welfare , socioeconomic development , public economics , economic growth , economics , economic system , market economy , population , philosophy , linguistics , physics , demography , quantum mechanics , evolutionary biology , sociology , biology
Proponents have long argued that small‐scale mining, given proper direction and support, can contribute substantively to the socioeconomic development of rural areas in developing countries. The attitudes of governments, commercial mining companies and donor agencies have been coloured by the haphazard, informal, often dangerous and seemingly wasteful character of much local mining activity, especially at the smallest scale. Yet this ‘artisanal’ activity has come to assume a critical economic welfare function in many countries, especially those which have suffered through extended periods of environmental and economic stress. This paper argues that this type of mining, because of both its upside potential and its problematic nature, cannot be ignored: neither can it be eradicated. Instead, explicit and sustained attention from governments, non‐government organizations, the private sector and donor agencies is advocated for an effort to rationalize and formalize this type of mining, to increase its economic and technical efficiency, and to maximize its social benefits and minimize its disadvantages.