Research Program
Natural Resources Policy
Resource governance, extractive industry policy, and the path to Western critical elements dominance through frontier economies. CEE bridges the gap between geology and geopolitics.
Program Focus
From Geology to Geopolitics
The energy transition and the reshoring of defense-critical supply chains have transformed natural resources from an economic development question into a strategic one. The minerals required for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced weapons systems are concentrated in a small number of frontier economies — and China currently dominates the processing of most of them.
CEE's Natural Resources Policy program studies the governance, economics, and geopolitics of this transition. We analyze how resource-rich frontier economies can capture more value from their endowments, how Western governments can build resilient supply chains, and how the competition for critical minerals is reshaping development finance and diplomatic relationships.
Our Critical Element Project — a leverage-scored analysis of 31 contestable supply locations across 63 defense-critical, energy transition, and industrial base minerals — is the flagship product of this program.
Research Themes
Critical Elements & Strategic Minerals
Mapping the global distribution of defense-critical, energy transition, and industrial base minerals — and analyzing the policy options for building Western supply chain resilience.
Resource Governance
Studying the institutional frameworks, fiscal regimes, and regulatory environments that determine whether resource wealth translates into development outcomes.
Extractive Industry Policy
Analyzing the design of mining and petroleum fiscal regimes, local content requirements, and environmental standards in frontier market contexts.
Revenue Management
Examining how resource-dependent governments can manage revenue volatility, build stabilization funds, and avoid the resource curse.
Environmental Transition
Tracking the intersection of resource extraction and environmental policy — including the carbon footprint of critical mineral supply chains and the just transition challenge.
Program Data Products
Critical Element Project
Live63 elements, 31 contestable supply locations. Leverage-scored analysis mapping the path to Western critical minerals dominance through frontier economies.
Critical Minerals Report
LiveThe geopolitical premium window: how Western supply chain diversification creates a narrow but significant opportunity for frontier economies to capture critical minerals value.
Unified Critical Elements Framework
LiveA 63-element tiered classification system resolving definitional overlaps, data deficits, and usage inconsistencies across existing critical minerals lists.
Supply Chain Stress Index
Coming SoonA composite index measuring supply chain stress across critical sectors including semiconductors, rare earths, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
Program Publications
All Publicationsopinion
Opinion: How Oil Went from Kazakhstan's Greatest Asset to Biggest Liability
working paper
Sovereign Growth Models at a Crossroads: Navigating a New Global Economic Landscape
policy brief
A Pragmatic Policy Toolkit for Startup Ecosystems in Emerging Markets
tracker update
Yuan Adoption Tracker Update: Q3 2025
Natural Resources Advisory
CEE provides advisory support on resource governance, extractive industry policy, and critical minerals strategy for sovereign clients.