Abstract:
This study employs an economic growth model to assess the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic. Using a time-series Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) approach within an econometric framework, the authors estimated the effects of gross capital formation, labor force, and the BRI-modeled as a dummy variable-over the period 1990 to 2023, using EViews software. The estimated output elasticities for labor, capital, and the BRI were 2.23, 0.008, and 0.22, respectively. These findings suggest that while labor exerts a substantial influence on economic growth, capital formation plays a comparatively minor role. The results also indicate a positive contribution of BRI-related projects to the country's GDP. Given the volatility associated with capital formation in Kyrgyzstan, the study recommends prioritizing labor-intensive BRI initiatives as more viable economic opportunities than capital-intensive ventures.