How China Is Reshaping The Global Economy

The growth of China and its re-emergence as a major economic power has been a key feature of globalization in the twenty-first century. China has become an increasingly significant actor in the global economy and this is likely to continue in the foreseeable future. The implications of this for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have been a source of major debate. This book examines the arguments, drawing on a growing body of research on China's economic involvement in SSA and LAC. It begins by considering the process of economic reform in China from the late 1970s that provided the basis for China's growing integration with the global economy. It considers four aspects of this integration: the growth of China as a global manufacturing centre; its impact on global commodity markets; the overseas expansion of Chinese firms as part of the 'Go Global' policy; and the increased role of China in global capital flows. Discussion of China's impact on SSA and LAC is characterized by disagreements over both the extent of its presence and the underlying drivers. The book documents the different forms of Chinese economic involvement and clarifies some of the confusions that have arisen over the extent of China's presence. It then analyses the economic, social, political, and environmental impacts of China on both regions to show a much more varied picture than the one that is often presented. These impacts depend to a significant extent on local conditions and actors and cannot be explained solely as a consequence of Chinese expansion.