Oil in Iraq: How to overcome the Resource Curse?

This paper will have a closer look at the overwhelming importance of non-renewable resources for the Iraqi economy and how the profits made by oil exports should be invested to ensure the best possible outcome, in order to finally overcome ‘the resource curse’. Channeling oil and gas revenues to lead the charge in generating non-oil based growth is of paramount importance to make the Iraqi economy sustainable in a long run and finally overcoming the resource curse. This implies investments that support economic diversification as a key driver of economic activity through the creation of an enabling environment and investments that remove the binding constraints to growth. While international oil prices remain high, action must be taken.