近年來大量學術研究已經證實，自然資源對於國家發展眾多層面具有負面影響。過去的大部分研究關注的重點集中於自然資源對於經濟發展、政治體制、制度質量、以及內戰方面，鮮少研究涉及到其對疾病傳播的影響。進入二十一世紀之後人類社會更頻繁地被大規模的傳染疾病困擾。那些自然資源相對豐裕的地區，也正是被傳染疾病頻繁影響並造成大規模傷害的地區。瘧疾就是其中一種分布最廣且對公共健康造成巨大威脅的傳染病。這篇文章旨在研究自然資源對於瘧疾傳播的影響。通過所有國家從2000至2014年時間序列橫截面數據分析，結果證實自然資源豐裕程度以及依賴程度都會導致更多的瘧疾發病數以及更高的死亡數。 / A lot of researchers have proved that natural resources have adverse effects on the development outcomes. Most of the past researches focus on the effects of natural resources on economic growth, political regime, institutional quality, and civil war. An interesting phenomenon is that countries with rich in natural resources are also those affected frequently by contagious diseases. Malaria is one of the widest spread diseases that poses a major threat to public health. This paper aims to analyze the effects of natural resource abundance and natural resource dependence on the spread of malaria. By using the time-series, cross-sectional data of all countries from 2000 to 2014, the result shows that there is a resource curse on the contagious diseases. Both natural resource abundance and natural resource dependence lead to more confirmed cases and deaths from malaria. The effects on the incidence rate and death rate need further analysis.

本篇論文透過國家脆弱程度與資源依賴之間的關係之研究以檢視資源詛咒。本論文寫作之目的在於探究即便國際社會逐漸增加對於透明性之訴求的情況下，撒哈拉以南非洲地區之非法自然資源貿易仍存在之緣由。文章主要討論三個問題：第一、國家脆弱程度是否對撒哈拉以南非洲地區國家之非法自然資源剝削造成影響？第二、在剛果的鈳鉭鐵礦貿易對於非法自然資源貿易透露出什麼訊息？第三、中國是如何對剛果開採的鈳鉭鐵礦之國際貿易造成影響？為找出上述問題之答案，本文運用了綜合的研究方法。以跨時間序列的回歸研究設計套用於49個撒哈拉以南非洲地區國家，用以解釋下述兩個變項之關係：IV代表脆弱國家指數、DV代表出口與服務占國內生產毛額之百分比。一項與波札那鑽石產業有關之剛果鈳鉭鐵礦貿易之個案研究，為非法貿易、來源、路線以及生存工具提供了更深入的觀察視野。最後，本文認為衰弱的中央政府，以及國際的漏洞使得自然資源的非法貿易成為可能。 / This thesis examines the resource curse through a study of the relationship between state fragility and resource dependency. The purpose of this thesis is to uncover why illegitimate trade of natural resources occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite greater international push for transparency. 3 main questions are posed; 1. Does state fragility impact illegitimate natural resource exploitation in SSA countries? 2. What information does the coltan trade in Congo reveal about illegitimate trade of natural resources? 3. How has the Chinese Gateway impacted the international trade of Congolese mined coltan? To answer these set of questions, a mixed methods research approach is employed. A cross times series regression research design with a data set of 49 SSA countries is used to identify and explain the relationship between two variables IV: Fragile State Index and DV: Exports and Services (% of GDP). A case study on the coltan trade in Congo in relation to Botswana’s Diamond Industry, provides a closer look at illegitimate trade, its sources, routes and means of survival. Ultimately this thesis argues that weakened central governments, along with international loopholes enables the illegitimate trade of natural resources.