ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the economic gains from tin mining in the main producing countries during the boom years of the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s, which came to an abrupt end with the collapse of the International Tin Agreement (ITA) in 1985. It addresses the main themes, development. The theme of relations between the state, society, and the private sector is addressed too, particularly in terms of producing countries' policies to increase the gains. The chapter indicates that some writers are very pessimistic about the development gains from mineral exporting, particularly where foreign investors are concerned. It explores different policies, and sets them against an analysis of the development effects of tin. The chapter shows that in Southeast Asia and, especially Malaysia and in contradiction to the pessimistic 'resource curse' and Singer-Myrdal-Prebisch hypotheses, tin generated strongly favorable development effects, more in fact than virtually any mineral, or indeed almost any primary commodity.
