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Transport Infrastructure, Growth, and Poverty Alleviation: Empirical Analysis of China

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Zou

    (Institute for Advanced Study, School of Economics and Management)

  • Fen Zhang

    (Institute for Advanced Study, School of Economics and Management)

  • Ziyin Zhuang

    (Institute for Advanced Study, School of Economics and Management)

  • Hairong Song

    (Institute for Advanced Study, School of Economics and Management)

Abstract

Using panel data of 1994-2002, as well as time series data of 1978-2002 in China, this paper examines the effect of transport infrastructure on economic growth and poverty alleviation, and finds out that the higher growth level in East and Central China comes, to a great extent, from better transport infrastructure. It turns out by Granger-test that transport investment especially that on roads constitutes a source of growth, but not vice versa. We compare the different effect of railways and roads in different regions, and find out that public investment on road construction in poor areas is of drastic importance to growth and poverty alleviation, and therefore should be a priority of policy choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Zou & Fen Zhang & Ziyin Zhuang & Hairong Song, 2008. "Transport Infrastructure, Growth, and Poverty Alleviation: Empirical Analysis of China," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 9(2), pages 345-371, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:journl:y:2008:v:9:i:2:p:345-371
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    5. Rimsha Irshad & Mehr-un-Nisa & Naghmana Ghafoor, 2023. "Infrastructure and Economic Growth: Evidence from Lower Middle-Income Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(1), pages 161-179, March.
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    7. Li, Yan & DaCosta, Maria N., 2013. "Transportation and income inequality in China: 1978–2007," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 56-71.
    8. Aswini Kumar Mishra & Kunapareddy Narendra & Bibhu Prasad Kar, 2013. "Growth And Infrastructure Investment In India: Achievements, Challenges, And Opportunities," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 58(196), pages 51-70, January –.
    9. Jing Fan & Hironori Kato & Xinghua Liu & Ye Li & Changxi Ma & Liang Zhou & Mingzhang Liang, 2022. "High-Speed Railway Network Development, Inter-County Accessibility Improvements, and Regional Poverty Alleviation: Evidence from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-22, October.
    10. Timilsina,Govinda R. & Hochman,Gal & Song,Ze, 2020. "Infrastructure, Economic Growth, and Poverty : A Review," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9258, The World Bank.
    11. Tong, Tingting & Yu, T. Edward, 2018. "Transportation and economic growth in China: A heterogeneous panel cointegration and causality analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 120-130.
    12. Cosmin Enache, 2009. "Fiscal Policy And Economic Growth In Romania," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 1(11), pages 1-50.
    13. Taotao Deng & Shuai Shao & Lili Yang & Xueliang Zhang, 2014. "Has the transport-led economic growth effect reached a peak in China? A panel threshold regression approach," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 567-587, May.
    14. Sedef Sen & Tugba Yilmaz, 2023. "An Econometric Analysis on the Relationship between Infrastructure and Economic Growth," Journal of Economic Policy Researches, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 10(2), pages 361-393, July.
    15. Martin Černý, 2015. "Calculation of Internal Debt on Road Network in the Vysočina Region," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 63(4), pages 1235-1249.
    16. Iris Claus & Les Oxley & Chen Wang & Guanghua Wan & Dan Yang, 2014. "Income Inequality In The People'S Republic Of China: Trends, Determinants, And Proposed Remedies," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 686-708, September.
    17. Wei Zou & Lan Liu & Ziyin Zhuang, 2009. "Skill Premium, Biased Technological Change and Income Differences," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 17(6), pages 64-87, November.
    18. Wang, Chan, 2012. "A very preliminary survey on growth and development," MPRA Paper 39037, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Lu, Haiyan & Zhao, Pengjun & Hu, Haoyu & Yan, Jie & Chen, Xiaoping, 2023. "Exploring the heterogeneous impact of road infrastructure on rural residents’ income: Evidence from nationwide panel data in China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 155-166.
    20. Wang, Chao & Lim, Ming K. & Zhang, Xinyi & Zhao, Longfeng & Lee, Paul Tae-Woo, 2020. "Railway and road infrastructure in the Belt and Road Initiative countries: Estimating the impact of transport infrastructure on economic growth," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 288-307.
    21. Jiayuan Cai & Chunchun Huang & Zilin Deng & Linna Li, 2023. "Transport Accessibility and Poverty Alleviation in Guizhou Province of China: Spatiotemporal Pattern and Impact Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, February.
    22. Kwang-Jing Yii & Kai-Ying Bee & Wei-Yong Cheam & Yee-Lee Chong & Ching-Mei Lee, 2018. "Is Transportation Infrastructure Important to the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative? Empirical Evidence from the Selected Asian Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    23. Yang Zhou & Chunyang Tong & Yongsheng Wang, 2022. "Road construction, economic growth, and poverty alleviation in China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 1306-1332, September.
    24. Li, Hongbo & Liu, Yali & Peng, Kaili, 2018. "Characterizing the relationship between road infrastructure and local economy using structural equation modeling," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 17-25.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transport infrastructure; Economic growth; Poverty alleviation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies

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