
Mining economic freedom at risk: A review of state intervention in copper and nickel
Mining economic freedom at risk: A review of state intervention in copper and nickel By Patricio Faúndez, Practice Leader of Economics at GEM Mining Consulting Over the past decade, states have expanded their control over mining through new taxes, environmental rules, nationalizations, and trade restrictions, reshaping investment and competitiveness. This study reviews copper and nickel to ask a central question: is mining freer today than ten years ago? The debate is relevant, as rising demand for these metals will test how government policies shape both national competitiveness and global supply. Copper Over the past decade, copper mining in Chile, the DRC, and Peru (main producers) has experienced different forms of state intervention. Chile, while still the world’s top producer, lost...









