중남미

With the aim of establishing a theory of natural resource policy, this study identifies the determinants of Chilean natural resource policy, focusing on the following: 1) natural resources in general, and 2) lithium in particular. Having identified these determinants, the three variables under consideration are the political, economic and strategic values of lithium. In essence, the study argues that the combination of medium political value, medium economic value and the low strategic value of lithium have led the Chilean state to maintain lithium in the “strategic mineral” status, as a means to sustain current lithium development contracts with private companies, to affirm state ownership of existing mineral resources and to introduce public-private partnerships for the future development of lithium as a resource in Chile.