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Africa’s Faltering Chinese-financed Infrastructure-driven Development Model

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  • Paa-Kwesi Heto

    (University of California Irvine, Center for the Scientific Study of Ethics & Morality, CA
    Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, CA)

  • Aarav Motivala

    (University of California Irvine, Center for the Scientific Study of Ethics & Morality, CA)

Abstract

African and Chinese leaders embraced infrastructure development and improvement as Africa’s go-to development formula in the early 2000s. However, the infrastructure initiative has not yielded the expected economic returns. This article investigates why these investments have not yet put African states on a sustainable economic growth trajectory. We argue that structural and institutional, gestational, and governance-related factors better explain the underwhelming economic performance of Chinese-funded projects in Africa than a deliberately and centrally orchestrated debt-trap strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Paa-Kwesi Heto & Aarav Motivala, 2026. "Africa’s Faltering Chinese-financed Infrastructure-driven Development Model," Journal of Developing Societies, , vol. 42(3), pages 331-355, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jodeso:v:42:y:2026:i:3:p:331-355
    DOI: 10.1177/0169796X261437192
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