Experiences with Oil Funds : Institutional and Financial Aspects

Abstract

This study brings together detailed information on the creation, operation, and financial performance of 12 oil funds and 3 other resource funds. The report looks at various funds in Alaska, Alberta, Azerbaijan, Norway, Chad, Sao Tome Principe, Timor, Chile, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Venezuela, and Russia. The purpose of the study is to provide comparative information on the backgrounds of the creation of these funds, the legislation used to do so, the details of the organization and management of the funds, and of their financial performance. The report opens with a brief review of the reasons for establishing an oil fund and the principal issues involved. The report then provides detailed coverage of four oil funds where there is substantial public information about the operation and performance of the funds. The final chapter provides some comparative material on the different funds and explores the construction of a set of indicators for good practice in the design of the funds. The appendixes contain the legislation which created the governing funds.