Is LGFVs Debt a Problem ?

Local financing government vehicles are funded and operated by local government authorities to fund infrastructure or other development projects, such vehicles were established by the local municipalities through the injection of land, equity and different sorts of capital instruments like bonds, commercial papers, etc. These type of financing vehicles became famous when after the 2008 financial crises the Chinese regional governments started funding infrastructure projects by taking on bank loans through the off-balance sheet Local Government Financing Vehicles (LGFVs). Chengtou are LGFVs specifically established to fund mega projects requiring a lot of capital and these were created mainly as a part of China’s stimulus package against the global financial crises of 2008. Since the Chinese government took a proactive strategy by devolving around 2.2 trillion yuan to local authorities so that they can undertake extensive urbanization to increase employment in the economy...