Smuggling along the new silk road: The role of Global Trade Hubs (GTH)
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PROJECT TEAM
Professor Sami Ben Sassi
Professor Sami Bensassi is a Reader in Trade and Development Economics in the Birmingham Business School and is a member of the Centre for Crime, Justice and Policing. His research interests lie at the intersection of trade, development and institutions. His recent work has focused on trade informality, corruption and conflict zones. Dr Sami Bensassi's research appears in leading academic journals including World Development, The Journal of Development Studies, The Journal of African Economies and the Review of International Economics. He has received research funding from FCDO, the European Union, the Economic Research Forum and the IFPRI, and collaborated with the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. He has received the University of Birmingham Outstanding International Impact for his research on smuggling at Tunisian land borders. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Paris-Nanterre.
Arisyi Fariza Raz
Arisyi is an applied microeconomist with research interests in financial intermediation. Currently he holds positions as a Lecturer in Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia. He has published his works in leading finance journals such as Journal of Financial Intermediation and Journal of Corporate Finance, and presented at leading conferences such as the Econometric Society and the European Economic Association. He is also a certified Financial Risk Manager® (FRM).
Dr. Adam Nix
Dr. Adam Nix is an Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham. His research focuses on corruption, misconduct, and governance issues with a particular emphasis on energy, digital, and other strategic industries. As a historian and management scholar, he has published research on the manipulation of US electricity markets following their deregulation in the late-90s, and experiences of interpersonal misconduct among UK employees. Adam is also an expert in the use and preservation of digital organisational records and has previously worked with the National Archives and the University of Illinois on funding research in email as a historical source. His teaching focuses on issues of ethics, governance, and societal responsibility within a business and management context.
If you would like to find out more about this project, please contact Professor Sami Bensassi on s.bensassi@bham.ac.uk.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The new maritime Silk Road, part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by the current Chinese president 10 years ago, has been an essential tool of soft power for China and has contributed to the growth of established trade hubs and the development of new ones. We define Global Trade Hubs (GTH) along the maritime silk road as states for which trade represents an economic activity that, in terms of value, is superior to the Gross Domestic Product of the country and/or countries where new port infrastructure able to welcome large-size containership have recently been developed. These countries/cities are essential platforms to facilitate international trade between Europe and Asia. They have constructed a combination of physical assets (ports, airports, roads and/or rail connections), legal frameworks, dedicated services and institutions strongly supporting their roles in moving goods.
The project evaluates the role of Global Trade Hubs (GTH) along the maritime Silk Road in facilitating illicit activities, particularly smuggling, leveraging proven methods based on mirror trade statistics. By comparing these findings with existing assessments of illicit activities and flows, the project aims to provide insights into the potential risks associated with GTH involvement in illicit financial flows (IFFs). Additionally, the study explores the concept of stigma attached to certain trade hubs, such as the Seychelles, analysing its emergence and persistence.
The outcomes of this research carry significant implications for national and international policymaking regarding the risk assessment and categorisation of GTHs in relation to potential exposure to IFFs, and offers insights to guide future policy decisions.
PUBLICATIONS
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Publications from this project will be posted here when available
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