“A commonly cited example of the resource curse is the Dutch disease, a situation which occurred in the Netherlands following a large natural gas find. The steps of the Dutch disease include:

1. A nation finds ample natural resource reserves

2. Economic focus begins to target this high-income industry

3. Skilled workers from other sectors transfer to the resource sector

4. Higher wages make the national currency less competitive

5. Other industries, especially the manufacturing sector, begin to suffer.

Both, the Dutch disease and the resource curse have a paradoxical impact on the overall economy following the discovery of large natural resource reserves.”

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/resource-curse.asp#ixzz2GdecTCwV

Now the British version of the disease manifests itself yet again with an enthusiasm for gas fracking!! Our manufacturing sector declined so far, I doubt it will ever recover, so we rely on foreign investment to develop our green industries.

In contrast, the Danes have a long history of community involvement:-

http://www.ewea.org/blog/2012/10/local-communities-invest-in-danish-wind-energy/#more-4041

Happy New Year.