The resource curse, also known as the paradox of plenty, refers to the phenomenon where countries rich in natural resources, such as oil, gas, or minerals, tend to have lower economic growth, higher levels of corruption, and poorer development outcomes compared to countries with fewer resources. This phenomenon is often attributed to factors such as over-reliance on resource extraction, volatility in commodity prices, lack of diversified economic structures, and weak governance systems. Researchers in this area study the mechanisms through which resource abundance can lead to negative socio-economic outcomes and explore potential policy interventions to mitigate the resource curse.