Natural resources and the public’s political trust

Working paper

Do natural resources affect public trust in political leaders and institutions? In this study, I use a difference-in-differences approach to investigate this question, focusing on Ghana’s discovery of high-grade offshore oil in 2007. I find that individuals living close to the oil fields became less trusting of political leaders and institutions after the discovery. The findings suggest that the oil discovery’s impact on political trust varies depending on pre-existing social and economic condi¬tions such as educational status, employment status and the level of media exposure. Additionally, individuals located near the oil fields reported more negative views about Ghana’s democracy, corruption, government performance, and economic conditions. The results suggest a potential link between increased bribe payments in these locations and declining trust.

Authors: Agyapong, P

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: University of Oxford
• Series: CSAE Working Paper Series
• Publication date: 2026-03-18
• Paper number: WPS/2026-03
• Language: English
• Keywords: natural resources; Afrobarometer; public attitudes; difference-in-differences; governance; corruption; political trust; Ghana