This paper discusses the policy issues facing São Tomé e Príncipe, given the discovery and imminent exploitation of large reserves of oil in its territorial waters. A common reaction to news of a large oil discovery is to think that all economic problems can be solved by the flow of oil...

A combination of higher oil production as well as higher oil prices is creating oil revenue windfalls for some Sub-Saharan African countries. If well managed, these revenues have the potential to reduce poverty; if not they could lead to Dutch disease and an increase in income inequality. Our...