ECONOMIC IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS OF CHINA’S GROWING INVESTMENTS, AID, AND INFLUENCE ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

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22Mar_Paintsil_Imalingat.pdf (1.94 MB)
Authors
Paintsil, Isaac N.
Imalingat, William
Subjects
Chinese investments
infrastructure
natural resources
African countries
foreign direct investments
FDI
economies
Advisors
Piombo, Jessica R.
Freeman, Michael E.
Date of Issue
2022-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
This study examines whether China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) has significantly improved African economies. Although endowed with vast natural resources, many African countries are primarily underdeveloped, with a substantial number of their people living below the poverty line. To build their economies, these countries have turned to China for support over the past few decades as the conditions attached to accessing loans from the West have become increasingly unattractive. These inflows of FDIs from China, along with aid, grants, and trade agreements, have helped to open many African countries’ economies and propel infrastructure development, social impact programs, and a reduction in poverty. Yet, critics question China’s motives and point to the burden facing African countries that may struggle to repay the loans. Using a case study of Ghana and Uganda, the thesis finds that China’s FDI has generally contributed to improved living conditions of the people, but this progress is tempered by trade imbalances, mounting debt, and failure to produce projected job opportunities. For their part, the Chinese have benefited from access to the continent’s resources and new markets for their merchandise. The findings also suggest African countries continue their robust economic ties with China but reduce their dependence on China by exploring other partners and new ways to leverage Africa’s own resources to fund growth and development on the continent.
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Thesis
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https://hdl.handle.net/10945/69697
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Defense Analysis (DA)
Defense Analysis (DA)
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