Natural Resources and Economic Development by Edward B. Barbier delves into the paradox of why resource exploitation does not yield greater benefits for poor economies. This second edition explores the topic in three parts: Part I offers a historical review of resource use and development, examining current theories on under-performance in resource-abundant economies and proposing an alternative hypothesis of frontier expansion. Part II analyzes key economic factors such as land expansion and water use in developing countries through models. Part III delves into structural patterns of resource dependency, rural poverty, and resource degradation within these nations, using illustrative country case studies to propose necessary policy and institutional reforms for successful resource-based development. Each chapter has been thoroughly revised and updated with new material, tables, figures, and empirical evidence since its first publication in 2005. The book is aimed at graduate students and scholars researching environmental and developmental economics.