In many countries rich in natural resources, the paradox is striking: a state that exports tons of oil, but which, paradoxically, finds itself obliged to import basic food products, such as wheat.
This situation, far from being a simple economic dysfunction, reveals the flaws of rentier and authoritarian management where priorities are often poorly oriented and where self-sufficiency seems a distant, even incongruous, objective.
An economic paradox
Oil is flowing freely, rents are accumulating, and yet, on the supermarket shelves, wheat arrives from all four corners of the world. Despite their wealth of natural resources, many
Oil-exporting countries are becoming importers of essential food products, such as wheat, flour or even vegetables. This situation raises an obvious question: why is a country that has abundant natural resources struggling to ensure its food sovereignty? One answer lies in the management of imports, often marked by bloated bureaucracy, authoritarian governance and a rentier economy that neglects investment in key sectors like agriculture and industry.
An economy based on rent and dependence
The State, instead of investing in local agricultural projects to ensure sustainable and self-sufficient production, prefers to concentrate on the exploitation of oil resources, the income from which is easy to harvest. This economic model creates dependence, not only on oil, but also on foreign products. Importing wheat, for example, seems simpler than developing a competitive and sustainable local agricultural infrastructure. Why bother growing wheat when you can buy it cheaply elsewhere, particularly in producing countries?
This is where the absurdity of the system becomes apparent. The state sells valuable resources, such as oil, to buy basic food products. The export of raw materials and the import of finished products or essential goods demonstrate economic management disconnected from the real needs of the population. Far from promoting economic independence, this logic keeps the country in a position of vulnerability. A shock to the international oil market or disruptions in supply chains can be enough to destabilize an already fragile economy.
Bureaucracy and corruption: obstacles to reform
This model is not only the result of bad economic decisions; it is also the result of bureaucratic and authoritarian management which is based on co-optation, corruption and inefficiency. In such a system, the structural reforms necessary for economic diversification are often delayed or stifled by the interests of an elite who benefit from the status quo. Economic policies do not serve to promote general well-being, but to maintain control and secure the rents of those in power.
Behind the walls of ministries and state offices, decisions are made based on political, not economic, considerations. Imports thus become a means of maintaining a relationship of dependence, rather than a development tool. Vital sectors, such as agriculture or local industry, are neglected in favor of easy, imported solutions. The question then becomes: who prepares couscous in an economy where even basic products come from elsewhere?
Society and the economy: a vicious circle
This management of the economy, based on rent and external dependence, directly impacts society. Inequalities are growing, as access to resources and wealth are concentrated in the hands of a few, while the majority of the population suffers from the ineffectiveness of public policies. The importation of essential food products, into a country capable of producing them, becomes the symbol of management disconnected from the real needs of citizens.
The image of couscous – a dish traditionally prepared from wheat – becomes a metaphor for this paradox. The state exports valuable natural resources, but the population continues to rely on imported products, leaving the question unanswered: who prepares the couscous?
An economic model to reinvent
It is high time to rethink this economic model based on rent and dependence. The challenge is to transform this economy into a productive and diversified system, capable of producing locally, particularly external dependence. This requires a profound change in the management of imports, the eradication of corruption, and a reorientation of economic priorities towards self-sufficiency and diversification.
If the State exports oil and imports wheat, it is because it chooses not to invest in the local production of essential goods. However, we must ask ourselves the question: in a constantly changing world, where global supply chains are increasingly fragile, is it really viable to continue to import what we could produce at home? And above all, how can we hope for a prosperous economy if we continue to favor easy income rather than work and innovation?
A future to build
The time has come to break with this vicious circle. Countries rich in natural resources must turn away from the rentier model and start investing in industrialization, sustainable agriculture and local infrastructure. An in-depth review of economic policies is necessary to ensure not only greater economic independence, but also a fairer and more equitable future for future generations.
Ultimately, it is the question of food, energy and economic sovereignty that arises – and it deserves to be addressed seriously, because it determines the country’s ability to prosper beyond exhaustible natural resources.
Dr A. Boumezrag
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