Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

How Do Western and Chinese Development Models Differ? Noted Chinese Economist Weighs In

File image of Justin Yifu Lin, former World Bank chief economist and honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University. SAUL LOEB / AFP

While China’s financing of Global South infrastructure faces ongoing criticism from the World Bank (see above,) these traditional development institutions are partly to blame for many Global South countries’ inability to boost development. 

This is the viewpoint of Justin Yifu Lin, one of China’s most influential development thinkers and a former chief economist at the World Bank. Lin now heads Peking University’s Institute of New Structural Economics. This joint background makes his insights particularly interesting.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.