Oil to cash : fighting the resource curse through cash transfers

What should a country do if it suddenly discovers oil and gas? How should it spend the subsequent cash windfall? How can it protect against corruption? How can citizens truly benefit from national wealth? With many of the world's poorest and most fragile states suddenly joining the ranks of oil and gas producers, these are pressing policy questions. __Oil to Cash__ explores one option that may help avoid the so-called resource curse: just give the money directly to citizens. A universal, transparent, and regular cash transfer would not only provide a concrete benefit to regular people, but would also create powerful incentives for citizens to hold their government accountable. __Oil to Cash__ details how and where this idea could work and how policymakers can learn from the experiences with cash transfers in places like Mexico, Mongolia, and Alaska. Oil To Cash Explores One Option That May Help Avoid The So-called Resource Curse: Just Give The Money Directly To Citizens. A Universal, Transparent, And Regular Cash Transfer Would Not Only Provide A Concrete Benefit To Regular People, But Would Also Create Powerful Incentives For Citizens To Hold Their Government Accountable. Oil To Cash Details How And Where This Idea Could Work And How Policymakers Can Learn From The Experiences With Cash Transfers In Places Like Mexico, Mongolia, And Alaska.-- Todd Moss, Caroline Lambert, Stephanie Majerowicz. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Oil to Cash explores one option that may help avoid the so-called resource curse: just give the money directly to citizens. A universal, transparent, and regular cash transfer would not only provide a concrete benefit to regular people, but would also create powerful incentives for citizens to hold their government accountable. Oil to Cash details how and where this idea could work and how policymakers can learn from the experiences with cash transfers in places like Mexico, Mongolia, and Alaska."-- Provided by publisher Front Cover 1 Title Page 3 Copyright Information 4 Table of Contents 5 Preface 6 Acknowledgments 8 Pity the Lottery Winner 10 Giving Money Directly to the Poor 16 The Devil's Excrement? 41 Designing the Implementing Oil-to-Cash 65 Gauging the Benefits of Oil-to-Cash 87 Oil-to-Cash Won't Work Here! Answers to Ten Common Objections 98 Where Might Oil-to-Cash Happen? 122 References 160 Index 173 About the Authors 185 Back Cover 188