Category: Front Page

Webinar Summary – Diversifying the Belt and Road Initiative: The Rise of China’s Overseas Development Investment Funds

By Christina Duran On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center hosted a webinar discussion on the diversification of Chinese overseas economic engagement for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The webinar, as part of the Fall 2022 Global China Research Colloquium, featured Oyintarelado (Tarela) Moses, Data Analyst and Database […]

Chart of the Week: Composition of External Debt Stocks in Africa

By Christina Duran China has been under international scrutiny for its loans to developing countries, while simultaneously being criticized for not playing an active role in helping countries under debt distress. Following China’s announcement in August that it would waive 23 overdue interest-free loans with maturity by the end of 2021 for 17 African countries, […]

Around the Halls: Human Capital Initiative Summer 2022 Fieldwork

By Mahesh Karra Over the summer, Boston University student researchers from the Human Capital Initiative returned to Africa after nearly two years to resume field projects, reconnect with colleagues and research partners, discuss research findings with local communities and policymakers and propose new initiatives with field teams. I led the BU team that launched and […]

Spot the Difference: Comparing the Belt Road Initiative and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment

By Oyintarelado Moses, Anjali Kini and Keren Zhu The Group of 20 (G20) meetings are taking place in Indonesia this week, and top agenda items include financial stability and sustainable development. Infrastructure finance gaps in the Global South have widened in recent years as pressing demands to address connectivity bottlenecks and climate-related challenges have increased. […]

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment: Global Infrastructure Initiatives in Comparison

Infrastructure financing gaps in the Global South have widened in recent years with the need for addressing connectivity bottlenecks and climate-related challenges. To achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an additional $3.2 trillion or 2 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) is needed annually for sustainable infrastructure investment, and roughly $700 […]

Webinar Summary: Tracking China’s Global Power Plants, 2022 Update

By Christina Duran On Thursday, October, 27, the Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center hosted a webinar discussion and demonstration of the China’s Global Power (CGP) Database, 2022 update. First launched in 2020, the CGP Database tracks China’s overseas power plants financed through Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) and loans from China’s two state-owned […]

Need a Ride? Understanding Latent Demand for Travel: Experimental Evidence from Urban Ethiopia

By Anastasiia Arbuzova Investments in transport infrastructure are a long-proven driver of economic development. Transport can facilitate trade by connecting geographically distant areas, leading to economic integration and increased competitiveness of low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, increased mobility spurs human development since it allows for better access to healthcare, education and other essential services. Thus, […]

Growing Pains: Charles P. Kindleberger and the Dollar System

By Perry Mehrling I wrote Money and Empire: Charles P. Kindleberger and the Dollar System to learn about global money: where it came from and where it’s going. For me, when I want to learn something, I look around for someone who already seems to have a good handle on it, and for global money, […]

Money and Empire: Charles P. Kindleberger and the Dollar System

Charles P. Kindleberger ranks as one of the 20th century’s best known and most influential international economists. A professor of International Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1948-1976, he taught cosmopolitanism to a world riven with nationalist instinct. He worked to relieve the fears of his fellow citizens through education, thinking that […]

GDP Center Round Up – 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27)

By Amanda Brown and Samantha Igo The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) is underway in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from November 6-18, bringing together policymakers, climate activists, researchers, civil society representatives and more to deliver action on climate change. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to supporting climate action in developing countries, the conference will […]