Bøger af Roman Grynberg

The relationship between De Beers and the Government of Botswana is frequently held up by the international community as the ¿gold standard¿ of developing country relations with mining companies. This peer reviewed book looks in detail at that relationship and the culture of secrecy in every commercial aspect of the global diamond trade in Botswana and abroad. The data in this book provides a unique glimpse at the profitability of the De Beers operations in Botswana because it contains the hitherto secret accounts of Debswana, the local subsidiary which is owned 50/50% by the government of Botswana and De Beers. Virtually every aspect of the diamond trade is secret including company accounts, prices, government-firm contracts, resource estimates as well as the precise corporate structure. The secrecy of Debswana accounts continues even after the EU Transparency Directive. The book considers threats to Botswanäs fiscal position with the advent of synthetic diamonds. The final sections address the optimal rate of diamond depletion and the direction of Botswanäs policy in the diamond sector. The book will be of great use to those experts in the diamond industry.

The book explores the evolving economics of gold as a global commodity as well as the production and trade of gold in and from the African continent. The growth of gold as an increasingly important and diverse source of African wealth is examined, alongside the impact that the rise of China in the 21st century has had on the demand for gold. The volatility of the gold price has increased as a result of the dramatic decline of gold demand for manufacturing purposes. Gold is Africäs second largest export after oil and is a perfect metaphor for a continent rich in resources while so much of its population lives in such dire poverty. The artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, is surprisingly widely perceived as being beneficial to the development of Africa despite its exploitation and dreadful health and environmental consequences. African Gold: Production, Trade and Economic Development considers policy issues regarding the gold mining sector, the economics of beneficiation, the retreat of jewelry manufacturing across the continent as well as ¿Africäs golden future¿. It is a relevant book for both academics and policymakers interested in Africa, natural resource, and development economics.