Dutch disease

Dutch disease refers to the decline of other economic sectors due to a booming natural resource sector

Dutch disease

Dutch disease refers to the decline of other economic sectors due to a booming natural resource sector

Dutch disease describes a phenomenon where the discovery of natural resources leads to an increase in the economic development of that sector. This increase often results in an appreciation of the country's currency, making other exports more expensive and imports cheaper. Consequently, other sectors like manufacturing and agriculture become less competitive.

Example

The Netherlands experienced a decline in its manufacturing sector after the discovery of the Groningen gas field in 1959, illustrating the concept of Dutch disease.

Understanding Dutch disease is crucial for policymakers to mitigate its negative impacts on an economy and ensure balanced growth across various sectors.

Related concepts

Educational content, not financial advice.

One email a day: 5 concepts + the 5 stories that matter →

Swipe through 100 ML concepts daily

Open TickerNews