Impact of natural-resource dependence on foreign contracting projects of China: A spatial panel threshold approach

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 11;15(6):e0234057. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234057. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The proposal of the "Belt and Road" initiative has had a positive and far-reaching impact on the economic and social development of countries and regions along the route and has provided good opportunities and conditions for the development of China's foreign contracted projects. In the present study, in view of the heterogeneous characteristics and spatial correlation of countries along the Belt and Road, panel data of 46 contracted projects in China along the Belt and Road from 2008 to 2017 were used to empirically study the spatial characteristics of resource heterogeneity and outsourcing projects in the host country from the perspectives of spatial correlation and spatial heterogeneity. The results indicated that China had significant spatial agglomeration effects, natural restraining effects, and spatial spillover effects on the contracting projects along the Belt and Road, and the marginal impact in low-income countries exhibited a "broken line" relationship. Corresponding suggestions were provided for Chinese enterprises contracting projects involving Belt and Road countries. The databases of BRI need to be established, and ensure green investment efficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Economic Development*
  • Internationality*
  • Models, Economic
  • Natural Resources / supply & distribution*
  • Spatial Analysis

Grants and funding

We are grateful for the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71774071), the Key Project of Jiangsu Social Science Fund (20ZLA007), the Young Academic Leader Project of Jiangsu University (5521380003), and Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (SJK19_2517).