Bradley C. Parks

Executive Director

bparks@aiddata.org

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Dr. Bradley Parks is the Executive Director of AidData at William & Mary. He leads a team of over 35 economists, political scientists, computational geographers, software engineers, program evaluators, policy analysts, and media and communications professionals who work with governments and international organizations to improve the ways in which overseas investments are targeted, monitored, and evaluated. He is also a Research Professor at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute.

Ph.D., International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science

M.Sc. (Distinction), Development Management, Development Studies Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science

B.A. (Highest Honors), International Relations, College of William & Mary

Prior to joining AidData, Dr. Parks was part of the initial team that set up the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). He oversaw the MCC’s annual country selection process from 2005-2010, and as Acting Director of MCC Threshold Programs he managed the implementation of a $35 million anti-corruption and judicial reform project in Indonesia and a $21 million customs and tax reform project in the Philippines. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and M.Sc. in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research has been published in dozens of academic and policy journals, including Science, Governance, World Development, AEA Papers & Proceedings, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, the Journal of Development Economics, the American Journal of Political Science, Scientific Data, and China Economic Quarterly. He is the author of three books, including Banking on Beijing: The Aims and Impacts of China’s Overseas Development Program (Cambridge University Press). Dr. Parks is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), where he works on issues related to Chinese lending practices and the future of the Belt and Road Initiative. He has served as a Principal Investigator on more than 50 policy research projects—funded by USAID, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, PEPFAR, DANIDA, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Green Climate Fund, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and others—worth more than $60 million. Dr. Parks’ policy publications with AidData, CGD, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy include How China Lends, Bargaining with Beijing, Hidden Debt Exposure to China, Belt and Road Reboot, Banking on the Belt and Road, and Is Beijing a Predatory Lender?  His work is regularly featured in print and broadcast media, including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Bloomberg, Le Monde, CNN, NPR, and the BBC.

The Economist China’s relationship with Africa is growing murkier
The Economist

China’s relationship with Africa is growing murkier

2024-09-04

Bloomberg Xi Wants Bigger Returns, Fewer Headaches From African Debt Deals
Bloomberg

Xi Wants Bigger Returns, Fewer Headaches From African Debt Deals

2024-09-02

South China Morning Post Management of Panama Canal ports by Hong Kong firm poses risks, US House panel hears
South China Morning Post

Management of Panama Canal ports by Hong Kong firm poses risks, US House panel hears

2024-05-17

The Atlantic How the Humble Donkey Became a Big Problem for China
The Atlantic

How the Humble Donkey Became a Big Problem for China

2024-04-21

The Economist Who’s the big boss of the Global South?
The Economist

Who’s the big boss of the Global South?

2024-04-08

The Economist Africa is juggling rival powers like no other continent
The Economist

Africa is juggling rival powers like no other continent

2024-02-28

Associated Press US plans to build a $553 million terminal at Sri Lanka’s Colombo port in rivalry with China
Associated Press

US plans to build a $553 million terminal at Sri Lanka’s Colombo port in rivalry with China

2023-11-09

Nikkei Asia China loaned Pakistan $21bn more than reported, study finds
Nikkei Asia

China loaned Pakistan $21bn more than reported, study finds

2023-11-09

NPR China is revamping its global Belt and Road Initiative
NPR

China is revamping its global Belt and Road Initiative

2023-11-08

CNN Developing countries owe China at least $1.1 trillion – and the debts are due
CNN

Developing countries owe China at least $1.1 trillion – and the debts are due

2023-11-07

Bloomberg China Revamps Overseas Lending as US Narrows Spending Gap
Bloomberg

China Revamps Overseas Lending as US Narrows Spending Gap

2023-11-06

The Guardian China ‘world’s biggest debt collector’ as poorer nations struggle with its loans
The Guardian

China ‘world’s biggest debt collector’ as poorer nations struggle with its loans

2023-11-06

The New York Times China Is Lending Billions to Countries in Financial Trouble
The New York Times

China Is Lending Billions to Countries in Financial Trouble

2023-11-06

The Wall Street Journal How China Became the World’s Top Development Financier
The Wall Street Journal

How China Became the World’s Top Development Financier

2023-11-06

The Wall Street Journal China Reboots Its Belt and Road Initiative
The Wall Street Journal

China Reboots Its Belt and Road Initiative

2023-10-16

The Washington Post China’s promise of prosperity brought Laos debt — and distress
The Washington Post

China’s promise of prosperity brought Laos debt — and distress

2023-10-13

Deutsche Welle China or US: Who's delaying debt relief to developing world
Deutsche Welle

China or US: Who's delaying debt relief to developing world

2023-10-11

BBC Business Daily Where next for China’s Belt and Road?
BBC Business Daily

Where next for China’s Belt and Road?

2023-09-28

The Economist Sri Lanka shows how broken debt negotiations have become
The Economist

Sri Lanka shows how broken debt negotiations have become

2023-09-28

Reuters China's Xi pledges to support Africa's industrialisation at BRICS
Reuters

China's Xi pledges to support Africa's industrialisation at BRICS

2023-08-24

The Financial Times China’s blueprint for an alternative world order
The Financial Times

China’s blueprint for an alternative world order

2023-08-22

The New York Times Why China Has a Giant Pile of Debt
The New York Times

Why China Has a Giant Pile of Debt

2023-07-08

BBC: Business Daily Investing in Africa: What needs to change?
BBC: Business Daily

Investing in Africa: What needs to change?

2023-07-03

Associated Press China’s loans pushing world’s poorest countries to brink of collapse
Associated Press

China’s loans pushing world’s poorest countries to brink of collapse

2023-05-18

The Financial Times Sudan conflict delivers fresh blow to China’s African lending strategy
The Financial Times

Sudan conflict delivers fresh blow to China’s African lending strategy

2023-05-10

Foreign Policy China Is a Loan Shark With No Legs Left to Break
Foreign Policy

China Is a Loan Shark With No Legs Left to Break

2023-05-09

The New York Times China's Lending Practices Are Not a Good Look
The New York Times

China's Lending Practices Are Not a Good Look

2023-04-20

The Washington Post U.S.-China split shadows hopes for lifting debt load from global economy
The Washington Post

U.S.-China split shadows hopes for lifting debt load from global economy

2023-04-13

CNBC China’s ‘Belt and Road’ grew out of a lending spree. Now those loans may be its problem
CNBC

China’s ‘Belt and Road’ grew out of a lending spree. Now those loans may be its problem

2023-04-13

The Economist How to survive a superpower split
The Economist

How to survive a superpower split

2023-04-11

NPR China’s Belt and Road Initiative projects may be faltering
NPR

China’s Belt and Road Initiative projects may be faltering

2023-03-29

TIME How China Became a Global Lender of Last Resort
TIME

How China Became a Global Lender of Last Resort

2023-03-28

The Guardian China spent $240bn on belt and road bailouts from 2008 to 2021, study finds
The Guardian

China spent $240bn on belt and road bailouts from 2008 to 2021, study finds

2023-03-28

The Financial Times That big Chinese bailout loan paper in full
The Financial Times

That big Chinese bailout loan paper in full

2023-03-28

The Financial Times China grants billions in bailouts as Belt and Road Initiative falters
The Financial Times

China grants billions in bailouts as Belt and Road Initiative falters

2023-03-28

CNN China gave huge loans to Belt and Road countries. Now it’s spending billions to bail them out
CNN

China gave huge loans to Belt and Road countries. Now it’s spending billions to bail them out

2023-03-28

Reuters China spent $240 billion bailing out 'Belt and Road' countries - study
Reuters

China spent $240 billion bailing out 'Belt and Road' countries - study

2023-03-28

The Wall Street Journal China Boosts Lending to Struggling Belt and Road Borrowers
The Wall Street Journal

China Boosts Lending to Struggling Belt and Road Borrowers

2023-03-27

The New York Timess After Doling Out Huge Loans, China Is Now Bailing Out Countries
The New York Timess

After Doling Out Huge Loans, China Is Now Bailing Out Countries

2023-03-27

Foreign Policy China's Checkbook Diplomacy Has Bounced
Foreign Policy

China's Checkbook Diplomacy Has Bounced

2023-02-21

Foreign Policy China’s Belt and Road to Nowhere
Foreign Policy

China’s Belt and Road to Nowhere

2023-02-13

The New York Times Sri Lanka Is Calm Again. That Doesn’t Mean Things Are Any Better.
The New York Times

Sri Lanka Is Calm Again. That Doesn’t Mean Things Are Any Better.

2023-01-31