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Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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Dec 21, 2018

Economic Outlook for 2019

By Global Business & Economics Program

December 2018 is set to become the worst year-end finish for US markets since 1931. A yield curve inversion combined with the fourth annual rate hike by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and growing geo-political uncertainty, triggered widespread angst among US investors about an economic slowdown and the increasing probability of a recession. This edition of the EconoGraphic assesses key economic indicators to make a case that while a slowing of the US economy seems certain, a recession in the next two years remains unlikely.

China Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Dec 21, 2018

Why No One Is Right about Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Reforms

By John Lough and Vladimir Dubrovskiy

The experience of the past four years shows that in Ukraine, it is far easier and more effective to shrink the space for corrupt practices than to deter corruption by punishing guilty individuals. To this extent, Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms have been working.

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2018

From Silicon Valley to Shenzhen: dollar exposures in Chinese fintech

By Michael B. Greenwald

In the post-9/11 era, Washington has waged innovative campaigns against terrorism finance, sanctions evasion, and money laundering. Leveraging the United States’ heavyweight status in the international financial system, the US Treasury has isolated and bankrupted rogue regimes, global terrorists, and their enablers. As financial technology transforms global business, the traditional financial system faces new competition […]

China Entrepreneurship

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2018

James Mattis: Leading by example

By Frederic C. Hof

Consistent with his record of service, he has chosen the path of honorable exit.  In this administration he will likely be alone.

Defense Policy Syria

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2018

Brexit will be detrimental for US ties with the UK and the EU

By Stuart E. Eizenstat

Brexit will be a blow to US-UK economic relations, to US companies doing business in the UK, and to the economy of the UK, the United States’ closest ally.

European Union Macroeconomics

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2018

Trump exits Syria: blundering toward a very Dangerous situation

By Nabeel Khoury

Trump’s decision to pull US troops out of Syria without a thought-through discussion and coordination with NATO allies, who have supported the war on ISIS, has angered senior advisers in and out of the administration. 

Defense Policy Syria

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2018

Mattis heads for the exit

By Ashish Kumar Sen

While Trump wrote in a tweet that his defense secretary was “retiring” at the end of February; Mattis made clear he was resigning over policy differences with the president.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Dec 20, 2018

Quiz: taking stock of 2018

By Atlantic Council

2018 was about more than royal weddings, Fortnite, and figuring out if you heard Yanny or Laurel. Were you paying attention to all the best summits, elections, deals, and dust-ups from around the world? Take our final quiz of 2018 before time runs out! powered by Typeform

New Atlanticist

Dec 20, 2018

Our holiday reading list

By Atlantic Council experts

We asked our community of experts for a list of books they would recommend for the holidays. Whether you like to read from cover to cover or between the lines, we have you covered. Stefanie Hausheer Ali, associate director for programs in the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Follow her on […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 20, 2018

2018: a snapshot

By David A. Wemer

As 2018 draws to a close, we take a look at some of the biggest news stories of the year from around the world.

Economy & Business International Organizations