Structural Change and Moderating Growth in the People’s Republic of China: Implications for Developing Asia and Beyond

Abstract

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is currently undergoing a number of structural and cyclical changes, which have wide-ranging implications for economic activity in the PRC, the rest of developing Asia, and the world. This report assesses the effects of these changes on the rest of the region and the world, looking closely at various channels of transmission including commodity prices, trade, and production. The continued moderation of growth in the PRC could knock off a third of a percentage point a year in growth for the rest of developing Asia over the next 2 years. Changes in PRC economic activity significantly affect commodity prices, but the estimated impact varies by commodity. This report discusses how developing Asia’s policy-makers can respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by these changes.