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

Geoeconomic fragmentation is threatening the green energy 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
Geoeconomic fragmentation is threatening the green energy 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
Geoeconomic fragmentation is threatening the green energy 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

Bremain vs Brexit

Mar 24, 2016

A Costly Goodbye

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla</span>

On June 23, British citizens will decide on a referendum whether the UK stays or leaves the EU. The consequences of a vote to leave, or Brexit, could decide the UK’s place in the world for generations.

Economy & Business European Union

EconoGraphics

Mar 24, 2016

The French Way of Reforms

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla</span>

France’s economy has struggled to grow in recent years, expanding by a mere 1.1% in 2015. Meanwhile its unemployment rate has stubbornly lingered around 10%, with a slight upwards trend.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

EconoGraphics

Mar 14, 2016

A Tale of Two QE’s

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla</span>

On March 10, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced an expansion of its Quantitative Easing Program (QE), increasing the amount of government bonds it buys monthly from €60 billion to €80 billion. It also extended the range of assets it purchases to include investment grade non-bank corporate bonds. On top of that, the ECB lowered already negative deposit interest rates further down, to -0.4%, and its main interest rate to 0%. So, why have Central Banks embraced QE?

Economy & Business European Union

EconoGraphics

Mar 4, 2016

TTIP: Window of Opportunity is Closing

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla</span>

The 12th round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) concluded last week in Brussels on an optimistic tone. The Chief Negotiator for the EU announced significant advances in most negotiating areas, including on the Investor-State-Dispute Settlement (ISD), which had been frozen for months. His US counterpart expressed confidence in reaching an ambitious deal in the second half of the year, rejecting calls for a “TTIP lite”.

Economy & Business European Union

EconoGraphics

Feb 25, 2016

TTIP: Cutting the Red Tape

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

The 12th round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) unfolded this week in Brussels between the EU and their American counterparts. At a time when both parties are stuck with weak growth (and persistent high unemployment in Europe), the importance of TTIP cannot be understated.

Economy & Business European Union

EconoGraphics

Feb 23, 2016

Tug of Budget War in Brussles

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

In the past weeks, the Portuguese government and EU authorities have engaged in a tug of war over the Portuguese budget proposal for 2016. The European Commission (EC) warned the newly elected anti-austerity government that it risked “serious non-compliance” with the EU’s fiscal rules. Finally, Lisbon narrowly avoided becoming the first Eurozone country to have its budget rejected by Brussels, as it agreed to additional tax hikes and spending cuts.

Economy & Business European Union

EconoGraphics

Feb 16, 2016

Dreaming Big: Size Matters

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

Why are Google, Apple or Facebook American-born but not European? Concerns about Europe’s lack of innovative start-ups prompted the European Commission (EC) to launch the Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan, aimed at bolstering entrepreneurship culture.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

EconoGraphics

Feb 8, 2016

Juncker Has a Plan

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

Europe's fragile recovery has been ailing from low levels of investment. While GDP and consumption have surpassed their pre-crisis levels, by the end of 2014 gross capital formation was still around 15% below its 2007 peak (€230 billion to €370 billion less than the EU's long term investment average). That is why the EU launched an ambitious investment plan, the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

Economy & Business European Union

EconoGraphics

Feb 1, 2016

Young Arrivals for an Ageing Europe

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

Refugees are pouring into the European Union (EU) at a scale not seen since the Second World War. In 2015 alone, 893.695 applied for asylum, up from around 250.000 in 2010, according to Eurostat. The magnitude of these influxes has rocked the EU boat, prompting yet another consequential crisis on top of last year’s Greek bailout and the incoming referendum on the UK’s permanence.

Economy & Business European Union

EconoGraphics

Jan 21, 2016

Feeling the Oil Crunch

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

Oil prices have fallen to their lowest since 2003, sitting under $30 a barrel in recent days. Declining expectations of global growth plus the addition of post-sanction Iranian supply don’t spell a substantial price recovery in the immediate future. Under this new market realities, oil-exporting countries come in different form to weather the storm.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
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Econographics

Nov 30, 2023

Geoeconomic fragmentation is threatening the green energy transition

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

The energy transition depends on trade—and on China. Geoeconomic fragmentation could impact global climate targets.

Africa China

Econographics

Nov 16, 2023

CBDCs will further fragment the global economy—and could threaten the dollar

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Hung Tran</span>, <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Barbara C. Matthews</span>

Divergent regulatory and technological standards are evolving along geopolitical fault lines. Such an outcome would be costly.

China Digital Currencies

Econographics

Nov 14, 2023

The economic implications of a federal government shutdown

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

For the third time this year, stalemate in Washington is again threatening the US economic outlook. If Congress is unable to agree on a funding bill by November 17, the federal government will be forced to halt most discretionary spending. Depending on its length and severity, this shutdown could rattle global bond markets, increase November […]

Economy & Business Macroeconomics

Econographics

Nov 8, 2023

How digitalization can improve climate resilience in the Global South

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Camilla Valente and Saffiyah Coker</span>

Digitalization offers a novel opportunity to build climate resilience if properly supported by the Bretton Woods Institutions.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

Econographics

Nov 7, 2023

What to expect from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum

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

On November 15th US will host the Annual APEC Forum. There, the US is expected to make major announcements around its regional trade agreement, bilateral investment commitments, and a meeting with China's Xi Jinping.

Australia China
World with currencies

Econographics

Nov 6, 2023

Central bank digital currency evolution in 2023: From investigation to preparation

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

Explore CBDC evolution in 2023, including key developments from central banks and what is next for the digital euro.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Nov 1, 2023

Russia Sanctions Database: November 2023

Explore featured insight part of the November 2023 edition of Atlantic Council's Russia Sanctions Database.

Russia Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Sunday Oct. 15, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS

Econographics

Oct 30, 2023

Israel’s neighbors are in dire financial straits. Here’s what that could mean for the war in Gaza.

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

While past flashpoints posed challenges for Israel’s neighbors, they did not have to contend with the risk of recession or worse at the same time. That means that economic statecraft by the United States and its partners could be particularly effective in navigating the current crisis.

Economy & Business Israel

Econographics

Oct 27, 2023

The status of labor rights in US trade policy

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Uma Menon</span>

US trade policy can advance labor rights globally through stronger enforcement mechanisms and deeper multilateral collaboration with international organizations.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Oct 26, 2023

Global Sanctions Dashboard: How Iran evades sanctions and finances terrorist organizations like Hamas

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

Iran’s financing of Hamas and other terrorist organizations; UAE’s role in facilitating Iran and Russia sanctions evasion; lifting of UN sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile program.

European Union Financial Regulation
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