This work investigates the complex intersection between natural resource management and the eradication of global poverty. Professors Alan Roe and Tony Addison utilize extensive research from the World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) to argue that sustainable development requires a dual focus on economic growth and environmental preservation. The authors present a framework that challenges the traditional trade-off between industrial expansion and ecological health, suggesting that resource-rich nations can leverage their assets to fund social programs without depleting their natural capital.

Experts in development economics recognize this text as a rigorous academic examination of the 'resource curse' and its potential mitigation. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which is intended for policymakers, researchers, and advanced students of economics.