GCI Colloquium: Michele Ruta on BRI Economics

Michele Ruta, Lead Economist in the Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment Global Practice of the World Bank Group, presented on the Belt and Road Initiative’s economics as part of the GDP Center’s GCI Colloquium. 

The presentation, titled “Belt and Road Economics: The social, environmental, and economics impacts,” began with an economic analysis of China’s BRI, looking at the economies of 71 countries along the six corridors of the project. Dr. Ruta explained that developing economies can maximize the gains of infrastructure projects by promoting policies that invest in integrating the private sector. Dr. Ruta concluded that the BRI’s outreach can have a positive effect on economies along the corridors; however, the extent of its materialization depends on domestic policies and risk management of host states.

Michele Ruta is Lead Economist in the Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment Global Practice of the World Bank Group, where he leads the work program on regional integration. Michele’s research interests are in international economics, and particularly on issues concerning international/regional integration. His work has been cited, among others, in the Economist, Financial Times, Guardian, Le Monde.