Call for Papers - Oxford Review of Economic Policy

The Oxford Review of Economic Policy is planning a Special Issue on “The Scramble for Critical Minerals” co-edited by Rabah Arezki (CNRS, CERDI & FERDI), Rick van der Ploeg (University of Oxford) and Christopher Adam (University of Oxford).

The world’s economic super-powers are in a race to control (what they deem to be) critical minerals, many of which are found in developing economies. This race has implications for geopolitics, both between the superpowers themselves and also for the mineral-rich economies of the global south. The implications for economic development and economic policy choices in the mineral-rich economies are potentially powerful. The externalities stemming from the scramble for critical minerals are broad ranging from the risk of conflict, environmental damage and exacerbation of poverty. 

In this special issue, leading authors explore these multifaceted consequences of what could well constitute “the scramble for critical minerals” and offer policy responses for developing countries to navigate the phenomenon.

Papers are invited for this issue with potential topics:

• Future demand for minerals, and price fluctuations
• Geopolitical tensions and technological uncertainty
• Geoeconomics of minerals supply chains
• Trade wars and critical minerals
• Taxation of critical minerals
• Domestic political economy of minerals
• Environmental consequences of mineral production and recycling
• Security, conflict and distrust
• Decentralization
• Macroeconomic consequences and public policy
• Processing of minerals and job creation
• Industrial policy in sectors involving critical minerals
• The role of multinational corporations and development agencies
• Transparency and governance

↪ Papers should be analytically rigorous but also punchy and policy oriented. Papers should be 4,000 – 6,500 words.

Invited papers will be presented at a conference hosted by FERDI in Clermont-Ferrand (and online), France, on 26-27 November 2025.