Non-renewable resource extraction over the long term: empirical evidence from global copper production

Abstract

Global mine production of copper has risen more than 80 times over the last 135 years. What were the main drivers? I examine this question based on copper market data from 1880 to 2020. I employ a structural time series model with sign restrictions to identify demand and supply shocks. I find that a deterministic trend drives most of the output growth. At the same time, unpredictable demand and supply shocks caused substantial fluctuations around the trend. A global commodity demand shock that is, for example, linked to a 3% unexpected expansion of the global economy due to rapid industrialization causes a 10% rise in the real copper price, incentivizing a 5% increase in global copper production. This provides empirical evidence for the feedback control cycle of mineral supply.