The Trickle-down Effects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Empirical Evidence from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Abstract

This study aims at examining the trickle-down effects of Belt and Road Initiative, in-contrast to the existing literature focusing on the financial and economic aspects of the Initiative. Taking China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative, as a case study, a moderation and mediation analysis has been employed to examine the implications. It has been argued that the BRI has created an environment that fostered tourism in the study region that has a 450km alignment along the CPEC route.  As a result, the region has witnessed mushrooming of micro and small enterprises. To examine the trickle-down effects, ‘tourism’ has been used as mediator between China Pakistan Economic Corridor and wellbeing. Relationship between CPEC and tourism, and tourism and wellbeing is significant and positive. Likewise, asset holdings, as a moderator, has significant and positive effect on wellbeing via CPEC and tourism.