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Savings, investment, and capital mobility within China

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  • Li, Cheng

Abstract

This paper addresses the capital mobility among regions within China. Using a range of panel estimators which deals with the non-stationarity of time series components, individual heterogeneity and common unobserved factors, we show that the savings and investment (both expressed as ratios to GDP) are positively correlated for a sample of 28 Chinese provinces over the period of 1978 to 2006. According to the Feldstein-Horioka's argument (1980, Economic Journal (90), pp.314-329), such a correlation can be interpreted as evidence of low capital mobility. In addition, by means of Granger causality test, we fail to provide consistent evidence to support the hypothesis of efficient capital allocation in China. Combining the results given above, it is believed that the capital may be inefficiently retained within the provincial confines. We conjecture that the intermarriage between financial power and local authorities is primarily responsible for this worrying phenomenon.

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  • Li, Cheng, 2010. "Savings, investment, and capital mobility within China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 14-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:21:y:2010:i:1:p:14-23
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    7. Chan, Kenneth S. & Dang, Vinh Q.T. & Lai, Jennifer T. & Yan, Isabel K.M., 2011. "Regional capital mobility in China: 1978–2006," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(7), pages 1506-1515.
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    14. Phiri, Andrew, 2019. "The Feldstein-Horioka Puzzle and the Global Financial Crisis: Evidence from South Africa using Asymmetric Cointegration Analysis," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 72(2), pages 139-170.
    15. Deng, Liuchun & Wang, Boqun, 2016. "Regional capital flows and economic regimes: Evidence from China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 80-83.
    16. Wang, Shoukun, 2016. "China's interregional capital mobility: A spatial econometric estimation," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 114-128.
    17. Curran, Louise & Lv, Ping & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2017. "Chinese investment in the EU renewable energy sector: Motives, synergies and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 670-682.
    18. Samuel Cudré, 2014. "Capital’s long march west: saving and investment frictions in Chinese regions," ECON - Working Papers 161, Department of Economics - University of Zurich.
    19. Saileshsingh Gunessee & Cheng Zhang, 2022. "The economics of domestic market integration," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1069-1095, September.
    20. Rajarshi Mitra, 2017. "Domestic Saving-Investment Correlation Puzzle Revisited: A Time Series Analysis for South Africa," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 37(2), pages 1217-1225.
    21. Natalya Ketenci, 2016. "The Feldstein–Horioka Puzzle and Structural Breaks: Evidence from the Largest Countries of Asia," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 10(3), pages 337-354, August.
    22. Phiri, Andrew, 2017. "The Feldstein-Horioka puzzle and the global recession period: Evidence from South Africa using asymmetric cointegration analysis," MPRA Paper 79096, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    23. Ketenci, Natalya, 2014. "The Feldstein –Horioka Puzzle and structural breaks: Evidence from the largest countries of Asia," MPRA Paper 54660, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    24. Lai, Jennifer T. & McNelis, Paul D. & Yan, Isabel K.M., 2013. "Regional capital mobility in China: Economic reform with limited financial integration," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 493-503.
    25. Taofeek Olusola Ayinde & Olumuyiwa Ganiyu Yinusa & Yulia Rodionova, 2018. "Global and Regional Capital Mobilities in Sub-Saharan African Economies: Complement or Substitute?," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 68(4), pages 51-71, October-D.

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