IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/eurjdr/v36y2024i3d10.1057_s41287-024-00644-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Belt and Road Initiative and Dynamics of Structural Transformation

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Calabrese

    (ODI and King’s College London)

  • Rhys Jenkins

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Lorena Lombardozzi

    (The Open University)

Abstract

Structural transformation is among the core questions in development economics, but in recent decades, the discipline has shifted its focus away from production and transformation in favour of analyses on exchange, growth and productivity. Yet, the structural transformation question remains central, and needs to be confronted with the main changes in the global economic and political landscape, such as the emergence of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). With its emphasis on an infrastructure-based connectivity agenda, the BRI opens the space for a paradigm shift in development, and for a renewed emphasis on structural transformation. This article introduces a special issue that explores the role of the BRI in promoting structural transformation in low- and middle-income countries, to understand if and under which conditions the BRI creates pathways that can change the structure of the economies. Through an explicit focus on the role of BRI on transformation in low- and middle-income countries, this special issue examines how domestic institutions regulate and coordinate production diversification, national and international sectoral specificities, and drivers and barriers to technological innovation and trade. In this sense, the special issue sheds light on new conceptualisations and empirical examples of industrial policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Calabrese & Rhys Jenkins & Lorena Lombardozzi, 2024. "The Belt and Road Initiative and Dynamics of Structural Transformation," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(3), pages 515-547, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:36:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1057_s41287-024-00644-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-024-00644-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41287-024-00644-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41287-024-00644-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. de Soyres, François & Mulabdic, Alen & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Common transport infrastructure: A quantitative model and estimates from the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. McMillan, Margaret & Rodrik, Dani & Verduzco-Gallo, Íñigo, 2014. "Globalization, Structural Change, and Productivity Growth, with an Update on Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 11-32.
    3. Fiona Tregenna, 2018. "Sectoral Structure and Change: Insights from Marx," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 443-460, July.
    4. Yanzhe Zhang & Xiao Yu & Huizhi Zhang, 2019. "Addressing the Insufficiencies of the Traditional Development Aid Model by Utilizing the One Belt, One Road Initiative to Sustain Development in Afghanistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, January.
    5. Rhys Jenkins, 1991. "The Political Economy of Industrialization: A Comparison of Latin American and East Asian Newly Industrializing Countries," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 22(2), pages 197-231, April.
    6. de Soyres, François & Mulabdic, Alen & Murray, Siobhan & Rocha, Nadia & Ruta, Michele, 2019. "How much will the Belt and Road Initiative reduce trade costs?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 151-164.
    7. Daniela Gabor, 2021. "The Wall Street Consensus," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(3), pages 429-459, May.
    8. Bird, Julia & Lebrand, Mathilde & Venables, Anthony J., 2020. "The Belt and Road Initiative: Reshaping economic geography in Central Asia?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    9. Zhiheng Wu & Guisheng Hou & Baogui Xin, 2020. "Has the Belt and Road Initiative Brought New Opportunities to Countries Along the Routes to Participate in Global Value Chains?," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440209, January.
    10. repec:bla:devpol:v:27:y:2009:i:5:p:483-502 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Lauren A. Johnston, 2019. "The Belt and Road Initiative: What is in it for China?," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(1), pages 40-58, January.
    12. Bräutigam, Deborah & Tang, Xiaoyang, 2014. "“Going Global in Groups”: Structural Transformation and China’s Special Economic Zones Overseas," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 78-91.
    13. Chen, Maggie Xiaoyang & Lin, Chuanhao, 2020. "Geographic connectivity and cross-border investment: The Belts, Roads and Skies," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    14. Giles Mohan & May Tan-Mullins, 2019. "The geopolitics of South–South infrastructure development: Chinese-financed energy projects in the global South," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(7), pages 1368-1385, May.
    15. Naughton, Barry J., 2018. "The Chinese Economy: Adaptation and Growth, second edition," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262534797, December.
    16. Leif van Neuss, 2019. "The Drivers Of Structural Change," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 309-349, February.
    17. Justin Yifu Lin, 2012. "New Structural Economics : A Framework for Rethinking Development and Policy," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2232, December.
    18. Pascal Abb, 2023. "All geopolitics is local: the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor amidst overlapping centre–periphery relations," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(1), pages 76-95, January.
    19. Ha‐Joon Chang & Antonio Andreoni, 2020. "Industrial Policy in the 21st Century," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 51(2), pages 324-351, March.
    20. Ha-Joon Chang & Antonio Andreoni, 2021. "Bringing Production Back into Development: An introduction," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(2), pages 165-178, April.
    21. Linda Calabrese & Xiaoyang Tang, 2023. "Economic transformation in Africa: What is the role of Chinese firms?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(1), pages 43-64, January.
    22. Bitar, Sergio, 1988. "Neo-liberalism versus neo-structuralism in Latin America," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.
    23. Liu, Zhigao & Schindler, Seth & Liu, Weidong, 2020. "Demystifying Chinese overseas investment in infrastructure: Port development, the Belt and Road Initiative and regional development," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    24. Rohit, Kumar, 2023. "Global value chains and structural transformation: Evidence from the developing world," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 285-299.
    25. Yang, Gaoju & Huang, Xianhai & Huang, Jiahui & Chen, Hangyu, 2020. "Assessment of the effects of infrastructure investment under the belt and road initiative," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    26. Zuleta, Gustavo & Sunkel, Osvaldo, 1990. "Neoestructuralismo versus neoliberalismo en los años noventa," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), December.
    27. Michael Spence, 2021. "Some Thoughts on the Washington Consensus and Subsequent Global Development Experience," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 35(3), pages 67-82, Summer.
    28. Hui Wang & Xin Zhong, 2023. "An Empirical Study on the Impact of Chinese OFDI on the Global Value Chain Positions of Countries Along the Belt and Road and Threshold Effects," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, February.
    29. Zhenhua Chen & Xinmeng Li, 2021. "Economic impact of transportation infrastructure investment under the Belt and Road Initiative," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 131-159, December.
    30. David Dollar & Aart Kraay, 2004. "Trade, Growth, and Poverty," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 114(493), pages 22-49, February.
    31. Lili Kang & Fei Peng & Yu Zhu & An Pan, 2018. "Harmony in Diversity: Can the One Belt One Road Initiative Promote China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-28, September.
    32. Padmashree Gehl Sampath & Bertha Vallejo, 2018. "Trade, Global Value Chains and Upgrading: What, When and How?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 481-504, July.
    33. Chen, Jiyong & Liu, Yishuang & Liu, Wei, 2020. "Investment facilitation and China's outward foreign direct investment along the belt and road," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    34. Collin Constantine, 2017. "Economic structures, institutions and economic performance," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 6(1), pages 1-18, December.
    35. Peter Lloyd & Cassey Lee, 2018. "A Review Of The Recent Literature On The Institutional Economics Analysis Of The Long†Run Performance Of Nations," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 1-22, February.
    36. Baniya, Suprabha & Rocha, Nadia & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Trade effects of the New Silk Road: A gravity analysis," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    37. Dani Rodrik, 2016. "Premature deindustrialization," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-33, March.
    38. Jan De Loecker & Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, 2014. "Firm Performance in a Global Market," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 201-227, August.
    39. Dylan Sutherland & John Anderson & Nicholas Bailey & Ilan Alon, 2020. "Policy, institutional fragility, and Chinese outward foreign direct investment: An empirical examination of the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(3), pages 249-272, September.
    40. Fu, Xiaolan & Pietrobelli, Carlo & Soete, Luc, 2011. "The Role of Foreign Technology and Indigenous Innovation in the Emerging Economies: Technological Change and Catching-up," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 1204-1212, July.
    41. Jing Wang & Xi Tian, 2022. "Impacts of the belt and road initiative on China’s bilateral trade," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(3), pages 400-424, July.
    42. Lall, Somik V. & Lebrand, Mathilde, 2020. "Who wins, who loses? Understanding the spatially differentiated effects of the belt and road initiative," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    43. John Humphrey & Hubert Schmitz, 2002. "How does insertion in global value chains affect upgrading in industrial clusters?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(9), pages 1017-1027.
    44. David Landry, 2023. "A torrent or a trickle? The local economic impacts of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(2), pages 145-162, April.
    45. Bandiera, Luca & Tsiropoulos, Vasileios, 2020. "A Framework to Assess Debt Sustainability under the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    46. Clément Nedoncelle & Julien Wolfersberger, 2023. "Structural transformation and international trade: Evidence from the China shock," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-64, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    47. Kevin Donovan & Todd Schoellman, 2023. "The role of labor market frictions in structural transformation," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(4), pages 362-374, October.
    48. Servaas Storm, 2017. "The Political Economy of Industrialization: Introduction to Development and Change Virtual Issue," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 48(6), pages 1-19, November.
    49. Lorena Lombardozzi, 2021. "Unpacking state-led upgrading: empirical evidence from Uzbek horticulture value chain governance," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(4), pages 947-973, July.
    50. Nugent, Jeffrey B. & Lu, Jiaxuan, 2021. "China's outward foreign direct investment in the Belt and Road Initiative: What are the motives for Chinese firms to invest?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    51. Antonio Andreoni & Ha-Joon Chang, 2017. "Bringing production and employment back into development: Alice Amsden’s legacy for a new developmentalist agenda," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 10(1), pages 173-187.
    52. Douglas Gollin & Joseph P. Kaboski, 2023. "New views of structural transformation: insights from recent literature," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(4), pages 339-361, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nugent, Jeffrey B. & Lu, Jiaxuan, 2021. "China's outward foreign direct investment in the Belt and Road Initiative: What are the motives for Chinese firms to invest?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Hannes Thees, 2020. "Towards Local Sustainability of Mega Infrastructure: Reviewing Research on the New Silk Road," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-35, December.
    3. Wang, Banban & Lin, Ping, 2022. "Whether China's overseas energy infrastructure projects dirtier or cleaner after the belt and road initiative?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Liu, Zhigao & Schindler, Seth & Liu, Weidong, 2020. "Demystifying Chinese overseas investment in infrastructure: Port development, the Belt and Road Initiative and regional development," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    5. Lingduo Jiang & Guofeng Zhang & Hang Zhang, 2023. "The role of the Belt and Road Initiative: New opportunity for Chinese exporters?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(6), pages 1609-1647, June.
    6. Damoah, Kaku Attah & Giovannetti, Giorgia & Marvasi, Enrico, 2022. "Do country centrality and similarity to China matter in the allocation of belt and road projects?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 660-674.
    7. Salma Ahmed, 2023. "Development Of Asia-Pacific Countries: Does Belt And Road Initiative Make Any Difference?," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 30(1), pages 217-262, May.
    8. de Soyres, François & Mulabdic, Alen & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Common transport infrastructure: A quantitative model and estimates from the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    9. Sanghamitra Chakravarty & Georgina Mercedes Gómez, 2024. "A Development Lens to Frugal Innovation: Bringing Back Production and Technological Capabilities into the Discourse," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(1), pages 82-101, February.
    10. ESCAP secretariat, 2023. "Accelerating Climate Action In Asia And The Pacific For Sustainable Development," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 30(1), pages 1-17, May.
    11. Richard Bluhm & Axel Dreher & Andreas Fuchs & Bradley C. Parks & Austin M. Strange & Michael J. Tierney, 2020. "Connective Financing - Chinese Infrastructure Projects and the Diffusion of Economic Activity in Developing Countries," CESifo Working Paper Series 8344, CESifo.
    12. Zhi Luo & Guanghua Wan & Chen Wang & Xun Zhang, 2022. "The distributive impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 586-604, July.
    13. (Corresponding author) Joyashree Roy & Hasan Mahmud, 2023. "What To Focus On In Order To Accelerate Access To Modern Energy Services And Energy Use Efficiency In Bangladesh," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 30(1), pages 89-120, May.
    14. Cristina Di Stefano & P. Lelio Iapadre & Ilaria Salvati, 2021. "Trade and Infrastructure in the Belt and Road Initiative: A Gravity Analysis Based on Revealed Trade Preferences," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Linda Calabrese, 2024. "Diversifying Away from Extractives: The Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Capital and Industrialisation in the Kyrgyz Republic," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(3), pages 601-638, June.
    16. Zhang, Yun & Liu, Yun & Zhang, Yifei & Chen, Xin, 2022. "Globalization blueprint and households’ fintech debt: Evidence from China’s One Belt One Road initiative," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 38-55.
    17. Anchal Arora, 2023. "Growth, Yield And Environmental Sustainability Of Cotton Production In India: Performance And Policy Measures," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 30(1), pages 195-215, May.
    18. Lionel Fontagné & Mathilde Lebrand & Siobhan Murray & Michele Ruta & Gianluca Santoni, 2023. "Trade and Infrastructure Integration in Africa," Working Papers 2023-14, CEPII research center.
    19. (Corresponding author) Debapriya Bhattacharya & Towfiqul Islam Khan & Mostafa Amir Sabbih, 2023. "How Successful Were The Least Developed Countries In Attaining The Millennium Development Goals? An Assessment Based On A Synthetic Approach," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 30(1), pages 165-193, May.
    20. Feng, Yusen & Wang, Gang-Jin & Zhu, You & Xie, Chi, 2023. "Systemic risk spillovers and the determinants in the stock markets of the Belt and Road countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:36:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1057_s41287-024-00644-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.