Regional inequalities in China

his thesis studied the development of the western provinces, with regard to GDP growth and the impact of the forces of economic growth, across China. Six drivers of growth were identified, human capital, infrastructure, FDI, exports, government reforms and the level of S&T. The country was divided in two parts, the eastern provinces and the western provinces. The latter consists of the central and western provinces. It was found that the western provinces started catching up to the eastern ones, in terms of GDP per capita. With regard to the drivers of growth, it was found that exports and S&T do not follow this trend, while human capital and infrastructure do. The development pattern for FDI shows a faint move towards the eastern provinces. Additionally it was concluded that human capital adds more to growth in developed areas and FDI adds more to GDP growth in underdeveloped reg