Natural Resources: The Curse of Developing Countries?


Aug 6, 2014 | Rappler
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People are dying while sitting on the riches of their lands. This is the horrid reality in most developing countries, particularly in Indonesia. Covering 1,904,570 square kilometers, Indonesia is extremely rich in natural resources. Active volcanic activities have made the land fertile, and resources are abundant. Salt, for instance, was believed for some time to have originated in Indonesia, and in fact is the etymological root of the word “salary” as it was used as a payment tool. In the old times, during a banquet, the person sitting closest to the salt in a table holds the highest rank or position.