COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Econographics deep dives

Special sections that go inside the Chinese economy, the evolution of sanctions, and the future of money.

 

Sinographs

In-depth analysis of economic and financial trends in the Chinese economy.

Fintech frontlines

Research and analysis on the intersection of technology and policy developments in finance.

Global sanctions dashboard

Monthly analysis of global sanctions regimes—highlighting new listings, delistings, and the motivations behind these changes.

Featured analysis

Housing costs are slowing down the US climate transition

Econographics Feb 10, 2026

China’s warning on US Treasuries—and why its timing matters

By Jeremy Mark, Josh Lipsky

Beijing has joined the conversation on the dollar. It was leaked this week that Chinese regulators have been urging domestic financial institutions to cut back on US Treasuries, and this timing is no coincidence.
China Dollar Dominance
Housing costs are slowing down the US climate transition

Econographics Feb 4, 2026

Understanding the vibe shift on the dollar

By Daniel McDowell, Bart Piasecki, Jessie Yin

Gold prices surged to record highs last week, driven by trade tensions, tariffs, and dollar uncertainty. For some, the rally signals rising skepticism about the greenback’s stability—even as policymakers insist the US remains committed to a strong dollar.
Dollar Dominance Economy & Business
Housing costs are slowing down the US climate transition

Econographics Jan 22, 2026

When will Wall Street’s tolerance for uncertainty run out?

By Jessie Yin, Josh Lipsky

In a decade of geoeconomic shocks, few events have truly shaken investor confidence. But Wall Street may be too complacent to political volatility.
Economy & Business Macroeconomics

Latest analysis

EconoGraphics

Apr 14, 2015

Who is Investing Abroad?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics</span>

While the US still leads the world in outflowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the emerging markets are catching up quickly. Chinese outflowing FDI, in particular has grown tremendously: since 2005, it increased more than 30-fold in 8 years from $5 billion to $166 billion. While initial Chinese foreign investments focused on natural resource industries, over time the investments have spread to diverse industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and professional services. BRIC FDIs are emerging as key growth drivers for low income countries, improving their business environment, building infrastructure, creating jobs, and adding much-needed revenue to government coffers.

China Russia

EconoGraphics

Apr 7, 2015

Is Europe still vulnerable to a Greek default?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics Program</span>

Private banks throughout Europe have significantly reduced their exposure to Greek debt (bank, public, and non-bank private sector debt) over the last five years. After Greece came under market pressure and eventually obtained ECB and IMF financial assistance in 2010, most European banks started to rapidly reduce their exposure to Greece. For instance, between 2010 and 2014 French banks' holdings decreased from $63 billion to $2 billion.

Economy & Business Eurozone

EconoGraphics

Mar 31, 2015

The IMF’s Changing Role in Europe

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics</span>

The International Monetary Fund's purpose and scope of work have changed since its founding after World War II. Whereas at first the Fund aimed to maintain monetary and exchange-rate stability among its members who were primarily advanced economies, today it faces its first credible challenge to its status as the world's lender of last resort.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

EconoGraphics

Mar 24, 2015

How Much Does it Cost for Cubans to Access Information?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics</span>

When President Obama announced his landmark policy shift towards Cuba, easing the 54-year-old embargo, one of the first companies to announce they would begin operating in Cuba was Netflix. The online video company's decision was surprising, if only because Cuba's internet is one of the slowest in the world.

Americas Cuba

EconoGraphics

Mar 17, 2015

Who Will Finance Public Debt?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics Program</span>

Today, the cap on US government spending (or the "debt ceiling") is officially reinstated, and with it, the threat of another clash over the national debt. Policymakers will have a runway of just months before they must decide to lift the cap on borrowing or temporarily allow it to be raised

Brazil China

EconoGraphics

Mar 11, 2015

The Benefits of a Strong Dollar: Where Should You Go on Your Next Vacation?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics</span>

There’s never been a better time to be a tourist—as long as you’re paying in dollars. Major currencies worldwide have plunged in value, meaning each US dollar buys more euros and renminbi today than it did one year ago.

Americas Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Mar 3, 2015

Who Will Collapse First?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics</span>

Both the Ukrainian and Russian economies are suffering from recent events. While weak domestic institutions and a fight with insurgents in the country's East plague Ukraine, sanctions and low prices for oil and gas are hurting the Russian economy.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

EconoGraphics

Feb 24, 2015

Is the US Still Leading in Global Trade?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics Program</span>

In the last two decades, the Asia Pacific region has signed sixty-five free trade agreements. South America, Eurasia, and Europe combined have signed over one-hundred and fifty agreements. Over the same period, the US has signed twelve agreements.

Americas East Asia

EconoGraphics

Feb 17, 2015

EconoGraphics – EU Energy Dependency

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics Program</span>

A great part of Europe is highly dependent on Russian energy, which helps to explain many of the concerns Europeans have over the developments in Ukraine.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

EconoGraphics

Feb 10, 2015

Is Austerity to Blame for the Collapse of the Political center in the European Union?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Global Business & Economics Program</span>

Radical political parties in the Eurozone—including Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, and Sinn Féin in Ireland—are riding a wave of popularity. The continent’s debt crisis has pitted the creditor countries, most importantly Germany, against debtor countries like Greece. On an international level, the northern European creditors have managed to implement policies that are forcing […]

Economy & Business European Union
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Content

Econographics

Mar 26, 2024

Housing costs are slowing down the US climate transition

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Joseph Webster</span>

The US housing shortage has profound economic consequences. Less discussed is the fact that it is slowing down the US climate transition.

Energy Transitions Financial Regulation
World Bank-IMF Meeting in Marrakesh

Econographics

Mar 25, 2024

Making Africa a top priority for Bretton Woods Institutions

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou</span>

With deeper engagement of Bretton Woods institutions, African economies can seize the moment and become the engine of global growth.

Africa Fiscal and Structural Reform
Blue Globe viewing from space at night with connections between cities

Econographics

Mar 20, 2024

Global Sanctions Dashboard: How Hamas raises, uses, and moves money

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Ryan Murphy, and Alessandra Magazzino</span>

How Hamas raises, uses, and moves money; How sanctions are used to counter Hamas and combat the financing of terrorism; Where governments align and diverge in their approaches to combat this activity.

European Union Financial Regulation

Econographics

Mar 14, 2024

CBDCs will need to work across borders. Here are the models exploring how to do it

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Ananya Kumar</span>, <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Alisha Chhangani</span>

These innovative models reflect a clear realization in the both the public and private sector— as CBDCs become a part of the financial landscape, there needs to be a mechanism to interchange them across borders.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 12, 2024

Stalled growth in the UK, Germany, and Japan darken global economic outlook

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Josh Lipsky and Alisha Chhangani</span>

The world's two largest economies won't be able to generate enough growth for the UK, Germany, and Japan—it is going to have to happen from within.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Econographics

Mar 8, 2024

How banking regulations affect US foreign policy

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Charles Lichfield</span>

Economics, finance, and national security overlap. Obvious areas include sanctions and trade policy. But US foreign policymaker are now also expected to develop some knowledge of critical minerals . Banking regulations may seem a step too far, but they too carry foreign policy implications.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Econographics

Mar 7, 2024

Unpacking China’s 2024 growth target and economic agenda

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Hung Tran</span>

At the opening of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Premier Li Quang delivered his first Government Work Report, setting the key economic and social policies and targets for this year.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 1, 2024

Climate, drought, and the disrupted future of global trade

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Sophia Busch</span>

Climate change threatens the efficient functioning of waterways, canals, and seaports—and therefore is a major threat to global trade.

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

Econographics

Feb 27, 2024

Future-proofing the World Trade Organization

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Penny Naas</span>

During the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, ministers must make progress on the WTO's negotiations and dispute settlement processes.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Feb 22, 2024

Chinese exports have replaced the EU as the lifeline of Russia’s economy

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Niels Graham</span>

Two years after the initial invasion, Russia’s imports have stabilized. New industrial and consumer exports from from China have replaced trade from the US, EU, and G7.

China Economy & Business
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