The recently ended rise in commodity price boom and the ensuing spectacular price falls that followed, have inspired an interest among the researchers on the role played by other factors besides the physical supply and demand. This paper examines the role played by financial speculation in copper price boom during the last decade. Using least squares with breakpoints, the results indicate that from January 1993 to December 2016 LME real copper spot prices have been characterized by structural changes and its determinants significantly varies in distinct periods. The results reveal that, financial speculation accentuated copper price moves during the last decade. The results support the conclusion that, fundamentals alone cannot fully explain price moves.

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This study empirically investigates the dynamic relationships between mining revenue, government consumption, exchange rate and economic growth in Botswana. Quarterly data from 1994 to 2012 were analysed through the use of unrestricted vector autoregressive (VAR) modelling consisting of impulse response functions, variance decomposition and VAR Granger causality. The impulse response functions showed the positive and negative response to mining shocks while variance decomposition indicates that mining revenue defines the variability in economic growth and government consumption. The empirical results also suggest that mining revenue and exchange rate granger cause economic growth while government consumption is caused by mining revenue and economic growth. These observations reveal how vulnerable the economy of Botswana is to external shocks. We conclude that, although mining sector has a significant role in the economy of Botswana,

This study empirically investigates the dynamic relationships between mining revenue, government consumption, exchange rate and economic growth in Botswana. Quarterly data from 1994 to 2012 were analysed through the use of unrestricted vector autoregressive (VAR) modelling consisting of impulse response functions, variance decomposition and VAR Granger causality. The impulse response functions showed the positive and negative response to mining shocks while variance decomposition indicates that mining revenue defines the variability in economic growth and government consumption. The empirical results also suggest that mining revenue and exchange rate granger cause economic growth while government consumption is caused by mining revenue and economic growth. These observations reveal how vulnerable the economy of Botswana is to external shocks. We conclude that, although mining sector has a significant role in the economy of Botswana,