Database Methodology Guidebook, 2023

The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center is a University-wide center in partnership with the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. The GDP Center’s mission is to advance policy-oriented research for financial stability, human well-being and environmental sustainability. 

The Global China Initiative (GCI) at the GDP Center maintains a suite of five interactive public databases through the Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.) research group. The databases collectively track hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investment to a variety of sectors, including energy and other types of infrastructure development. GCI databases track China’s overseas development finance from China’s two overseas-oriented development finance institutions (DFIs): China Development Bank (CDB) and the Export-Import Bank of China (CHEXIM). Some GCI databases track other sources of Chinese finance. 

Through these databases, GCI provides transparent information to aid research, education, policymaking, reporting and accountability with regards to China’s overseas development finance, foreign direct investment, other lending and projects around the world. The Database Methodology Guidebook, 2023 discusses the database scopes, definitions and data collection methodologies used in GDP Center databases, explaining how these databases were created and how they are updated and maintained. The guidebook also explains the database update schedule and provides answers to frequently asked questions.

GCI databases include:

• The China’s Overseas Development Finance (CODF) Database
• The Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA) Database
• The Chinese Loans to Latin America and the Caribbean Database (CLLAC) Database
• The China’s Global Energy Finance (CGEF) Database
• The China’s Global Power (CGP) Database

These databases are open knowledge products, and as such, we welcome additions and corrections.