Source: Adam Smith Institute
by Tim Worstall
“The Guardian is very concerned about mining: ‘The Guardian view on the scramble for critical minerals: while powers vie for access, labourers die …. A mining disaster in the Democratic Republic of Congo underscores the human cost of extraction. Intensified competition for resources isn’t helping.’ It’s fair to be worried about this. Hundreds have died just recently in a series of flood driven cave-ins at one area of mining in DR Congo, just as the one example. The problem is, of course, the absence of capitalism. For these mines are what are known as ‘artisanal’ mines. This means mines being dug and operated by the literally dirt poor locals with pick and shovel. … The problem is the economy around the mines, not the mines themselves.” (02/10/26)
https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/the-problem-is-the-absence-of-capitalism