China and the African State : evidence from surveys, survey experiments, and behavioral games in Liberia

In recent years, China has dramatically increased the size and scope of its aid to and investment in sub-Saharan Africa. This increase has ignited an acrimonious debate among scholars and policymakers, some of whom believe China is a "rogue donor" that has exacerbated corruption, eroded transparency, and further estranged African citizens from their own governments. The authors test this proposition in Liberia by combining sub-national analysis of original surveys, survey experiments, and behavioral games. Contrary to expectations, the authors find that although exposure to Chinese aid and investment has improved Africans" perceptions of Chinese donors and investors, it generally has not affected their views of their own governments, nor has it changed their willingness to contribute to government social service provision through tax compliance. These null results are consistent across settings and across measurement and identification strategies, belying the conventional wisdom that China has provoked a backlash among those most affected by its presence, or that it has diminished tax morale and damaged perceptions of government. U.S. aid and investment appears to have similar null effects, though it (unlike its Chinese counterpart) is associated with more positive perceptions of the quality of democracy in recipient countries. (Author abstract, modified)