Small-scale mining, poverty and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa: An overview

Hilson, G. (2009) Small-scale mining, poverty and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa: An overview. Resources Policy, 34 (1-2). pp. 1-5. ISSN 0301-4207 doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2008.12.001

Abstract/Summary

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM)-low tech, labour intensive mineral processing and excavation activity-is an economic mainstay in rural sub-Saharan Africa, providing direct employment to over two million people. This paper introduces a special issue on 'Small-scale mining, poverty and development in sub-Saharan Africa'. It focuses on the core conceptual issues covered in the literature, and the policy implications of the findings reported in the papers in this special issue. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.