A new update to the Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA) Database, managed by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, estimates that from 2000-2023, Chinese lenders provided 1,306 loans amounting to $182.28 billion to 49 African governments and seven regional borrowers. In 2023, Chinese lenders issued 13 new commitments with a value of $4.61 billion […]
By Samantha Igo On Tuesday, July 30, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) hosted a webinar titled, “Are We Out of the (Bretton) Woods Yet? The International Financial Architecture 80 Years On.” The discussion reflected on 80 years of the Bretton Woods institutions, citing a new flagship report that synthesizes the GDP […]
By Jwala Rambarran This month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) marks its 80th anniversary amid various proposals on how to reform the global financial architecture to make it fit-for-purpose in the 21st century. Climate change poses a particular, and urgent, opportunity for reform. Many of the IMF’s developing country members are grappling with severe fiscal and […]
By Gregory T. Chin When much of the world shut-down at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in late 2021, the New Development Bank (NDB) welcomed four nations into its membership, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Egypt. These additions, with Uruguay pending, were the first new members since the creation of the Bank […]
The Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN) is a set of institutions and mechanisms that provide insurance against crises and financing to mitigate their impacts. It has four main elements: countries’ own international reserves; bilateral swap arrangements whereby central banks exchange currencies to provide liquidity to banking systems; regional financial arrangements (RFAs) by which countries pool […]
By Rachel Thrasher On Tuesday, May 7, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) hosted Alexandros Kentikelenis and Thomas Stubbs, co-authors of the new book, “A Thousand Cuts: Social Protection in the Age of Austerity,” as part of the Spring 2024 Global Economic Governance Initiative Book Talk Series. Kentikelenis is Associate Professor of […]
By Tim Hirschel-Burns In March, New York lawmakers submitted the “Sovereign Debt Stability Act” to the New York State Assembly with the goal of “providing effective mechanisms for restructuring sovereign and subnational debt.” Proponents of the bill will seek to move it through both chambers of the legislature and receive a signature from the governor […]
By Angie Ye During the week of March 25, members of the Global China Initiative (GCI) at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) traveled to China to present their policy-oriented research to policymakers, engage in academic exchange with partner institutions, and connect with Boston University alumni based in China. Team members including […]
By Tim Hirschel-Burns From April 15-19, policymakers, civil society, researchers and more will gather in Washington, D.C. for the 2024 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Group Spring Meetings. These official, high-level meetings will set the direction for the institutions, amid a plethora of panels and side events, as well as related meetings like the G20 […]
By Oyintarelado Moses From 2000-2022, China’s engagement with African countries through trade, overseas development finance and foreign direct investment (FDI) has bolstered ties and increased policy relations, particularly in the areas of development. Past trends in economic engagement have led to both benefits and risks to African governments, spanning economic growth and environmental impacts on […]