Author: Claire Paul

Officer-Involved Killings of Unarmed Black People and Racial Disparities in Sleep Health

Black individuals are more likely to report shorter sleep durations compared with white individuals, posing a potential public health problem given that short sleep is risk factor for many chronic and mental health conditions. Unequal exposure to police violence, a cardinal manifestation of structural racism, may be a contributor to racial disparities in sleep health. […]

Quantifying China’s Rise Within the Bretton Woods System

By Yaechan Lee China’s emergence as a critical player in the international economic order has considerably shaken up the existing dynamic, leading to its advancement in some respects, but contest in others. How can researchers measure the extent to which China participates in the three institutional pillars of the Bretton Woods System (BWS) – the […]

GDP Center Round-up: 2023 Global China Database Updates

The Global China Initiative (GCI) manages a suite of five interactive public databases that collectively track hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investment to a variety of sectors, including energy and other infrastructure development. GCI manages and updates these databases in a bid to provide transparent information to aid research, education, policymaking, journalism and […]

Who Finances Energy Projects in Africa?

Energy infrastructure facilitates economic growth, generates jobs, increases productivity and reduces the cost of doing business. Yet, many African countries experience a wide range of energy deficits, including low rates of electricity access and a lack of clean cooking fuels and technologies. About 600 million people—43 percent of Africa’s population—lacked access to electricity in 2021. […]

On Par: A Money View of Stablecoins

The rapid growth in stablecoin issuance and the recent testing of stablecoins’ par settlement promises has provoked a flurry of papers proposing various forms of regulation and alternatives, from various vantage points. However, how do stablecoins hold up from the vantage point of the money view, which focuses attention on the mechanism of settlement and […]

GDP Center Round-up: 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28)

By Claire Paul From November 28-December 12, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference comes at a “milestone moment,” as participating representatives will assess their country’s progress in adhering to the goals set out by the Paris Agreement and conclude the first-ever Global Stocktake. […]

Gendered Differences in Mobility and the Demand for Transport in Ethiopia

Urban expansion in Africa offers opportunities for growth and development, but such growth will also present significant challenges to the planning, managing and financing of public infrastructure and services, particularly urban transportation systems. Inadequate transportation in African cities has a particularly disproportionate effect on women, who are likely to face additional social and structural barriers […]

GDP Center Round-Up: 2023 Summer in the Field Fellowship Program

By Claire Paul After a summer of research and professional development, the 2023 Summer in the Field Fellows have completed their fellowships. The Summer in the Field Program, sponsored by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, provides stipends of $6,000-$8,000 to a select group of qualified Boston University graduate students to participate in unpaid internships […]