Nearly 200-country study shows China’s Belt and Road Initiative cuts debt and corruption
A study analysing data from hundreds of countries and regions suggests China’s Belt and Road Initiative is linked to better governance and economic development, according to researchers from Nanjing University. They found the trade and investment scheme – which spans Africa, Asia, Europe and beyond – was also associated with improved corruption control and that it reduced debt risks. The team –…
A study by researchers from Nanjing University, analysing data from 197 countries and regions between 2000 and 2023, suggests that China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is linked to better governance and economic development. The researchers found that the BRI, which spans Africa, Asia, Europe, and beyond, was associated with improved corruption control, reduced debt risks, and a "development-infrastructure-security" cycle that strengthened economic growth, state capacity, and social stability.
While critics have raised concerns about the initiative's transparency, sustainability, and geopolitical implications, the Nanjing University team's findings challenge these characterizations and argue that the BRI's infrastructure projects have contributed to better political stability, governance, and economic performance in participating countries.
Brief written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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