Business of the State: Why State Ownership Matters for Resource Governance

In his new book, Business of the State: Why State Ownership Matters for Resource Governance, Jojo Nem Singh, Ph.D., (Erasmus University Rotterdam) explores what effective growth strategies might look like for these states, shifting away from extractivism as a growth model and instead harnessing the development potential of their resources amid strategic competition. Drawing from the experiences of Brazil's Petrobras and Chile's Codelco, the book shares how state-owned enterprises-if paired with governance reforms and aligned with the private sector-could open new pathways for development.

In exploring a roadmap for mineral states, Singh asks fundamental questions about states and markets: Why do states seek to intervene in the affairs of public enterprises? And what role might they play in structural transformation?

The Environmental Institutions Seminar Series is presented by the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and the University Program in Environmental Policy, a doctoral degree program jointly offered by the Nicholas School of the Environment and Sanford School of Public Policy a