Natural resource distribution does not determine economic development, but it significantly influences the starting point and development path.Resource-rich countries often enjoy short-term advantages (capital, export revenue), but long-term prosperity depends more on institutions, education, innovation, governance quality, and economic diversification.The "resource curse" phenomenon shows that many resource-abundant countries experience slower growth, more corruption, and greater inequality compared to resource-poor but institution-strong economies (e.g., Japan, South Korea, Singapore vs. Venezuela, Nigeria).Conclusion: Resources are a blessing only when combined with good institutions and policies; otherwise, they frequently become a curse.Related websites: https://www.nber.org/papers/w9486 https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2018/03/venables https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X1730346X https://ourworldindata.org/resource-curse
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Geography and identity are deeply intertwined. Place shapes who we are through:Landscape & memory: mountains, rivers, or urban streets become part of personal and collective narratives Culture & language: regional dialects, food, festivals, and customs create distinct group identities History & belonging: historical events tied to specific territories foster pride, trauma, or contested claims Borders & exclusion: national, ethnic or local boundaries define “us” versus “them” From indigenous connections to ancestral land, to modern national identities rooted in territory, to diaspora longing for “home”, geography is never just background—it actively constructs, sustains, and sometimes fractures human identity.https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctt1n7zkgj https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14608944.2018.1428795 https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/22/geography-identity-politics-borders-nation-state
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Yes, commercialization can distort cultural meaning by commodifying traditions, stripping them of authenticity, and turning sacred practices into profit-driven spectacles, often leading to homogenization and loss of depth.However, it can also preserve and promote culture through economic incentives, funding conservation, and spreading awareness globally.The key is balance: respectful commercialization benefits communities, while excessive exploitation erodes significance.https://ejceudaimonia.wordpress.com/2020/10/28/is-the-commercialisation-of-culture-necessarily-a-bad-thing/ https://thetourism.institute/tourism-impacts/commercialisation-culture-tourism-economic-authenticity-balance/ https://www.bitglint.com/commercialization-of-minority-cultures/
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