Children living near large-scale gold mines in Tanzania are significantly less likely to suffer from stunting and malnutrition than those living further away.
March 31, 2026
Original Paper
Proximity to Large-Scale Gold Mining and Child Health: Evidence of Spatial Associations in Tanzania
SSRN · 6443057
The Takeaway
Contrary to the 'resource curse' theory that mining harms local communities, this spatial analysis found a 3.9 percentage point reduction in stunting for children within 9km of a mine. The health benefit is strongest closest to the mine and disappears as you move further away, suggesting direct local economic benefits.
From the abstract
Understanding how large-scale mining affects surrounding communities is critical for effective and sustainable resource governance, yet empirical evidence remains mixed. This study examined child nutrition outcomes among households living near versus farther from five major gold mining operations in Tanzania. Using a geocoded National Panel Survey data (2008-2021, N=5,943 children), we estimate probit model controlling for demographic characteristics, households socioeconomic status, environment