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Domestic railroad infrastructure and exports: Evidence from the Silk Route

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  • Xu, Hangtian

Abstract

By exploiting a quasi-experiment affecting only non-monetary transport cost, this study tests the impact of an exogenous railroad speed enhancement and capacity expansion project (RSCP) on China's exports to Central Asia. The Longhai and Lanxin lines in China, linking the East and the West, were upgraded on October 21, 2000, improving freight efficiency between Eastern China and Xinjiang, the gateway from China to Central Asia. By employing a transaction-level export database, empirical results find that exports freighted on the upgraded rail lines increased in value by approximately 30%, compared with other freight modes. The results are robust by excluding specific observations with respect to the demand fluctuations and macroeconomic shocks, and including additional controls. The intensive margin, but not the extensive margin, played a major role in explaining the impact of railroad upgrades on exports. In addition, the project caused spatial reorganization in exporting activities. The share of Xinjiang exporters in the Central Asia market shrank, while Xinjiang's exports to other international markets expanded through better accessibility to the coast.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Hangtian, 2016. "Domestic railroad infrastructure and exports: Evidence from the Silk Route," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 129-147.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:41:y:2016:i:c:p:129-147
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2016.09.005
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    Cited by:

    1. Kamalbek Karymshakov & Burulcha Sulaimanova, 2021. "The impact of infrastructure on trade in Central Asia," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 5-20, December.
    2. Jarosław M. Nazarczuk & Stanisław Umiński & Tomasz Brodzicki, 2020. "Determinants of the spatial distribution of exporters in regions: the role of ownership," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 64(3), pages 547-574, June.
    3. Ke, Xiao & Chen, Haiqiang & Hong, Yongmiao & Hsiao, Cheng, 2017. "Do China's high-speed-rail projects promote local economy?—New evidence from a panel data approach," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 203-226.
    4. Weidong Li & Olli-Pekka Hilmola, 2019. "Belt and Road Initiative and Railway Sector Efficiency—Application of Networked Benchmarking Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-21, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transport infrastructure; Trade; Time cost; Spatial reorganization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

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