Abstract
This study evaluates the influence of natural resources on economic growth, utilizing oil rents as a representative indicator of resource wealth. By employing a panel data fixed-effects model alongside instrumental variable techniques, we analyze a dataset encompassing 142 developed and developing nations over the period 1975 to 2013. The findings reveal a statistically significant positive relationship between oil rents and economic growth, suggesting that oil rents serve as an economic advantage rather than a detriment.