Featured analysis

Democratic challenges at Bretton Woods Institutions

EconoGraphics Apr 17, 2025

Russia Sanctions Database: November 2024

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze

The Atlantic Council’s Russia Sanctions Database tracks the restrictive economic measures Western allies have placed on Russia and evaluates whether these measures are successful in achieving the stated objectives.
China East Asia
Democratic challenges at Bretton Woods Institutions

Econographics Mar 14, 2025

What is strategic about the new digital assets reserve?

By JP Schnapper-Casteras

To many on Wall Street and Main Street, this executive order on a strategic bitcoin reserve may still seem more like political maneuvering than sober monetary policy.
Digital Currencies Digital Policy
Democratic challenges at Bretton Woods Institutions

Sinographs Mar 12, 2025

China’s economic plans prioritize consumption—but only on paper

By Jeremy Mark

At last week’s meeting of the National People’s Congress, China declared consumption as the number one priority. But will the spending plans actually support consumers and businesses?
China Economy & Business

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.

Latest analysis

Econographics

Aug 17, 2023

The Chinese economy’s moment of macro weakness—in charts

By Niels Graham

The Chinese economy is weakening as seen through indicators related to its property and manufacturing sectors, unemployment, inflation, and trade.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Aug 15, 2023

Two credit downgrades in the US are a much-needed warning 

By Hung Tran

Fitch’s decision to downgrade US long-term credit ratings is another warning sign. Neither the complacency of markets nor the forced optimism of officials reflects the seriousness of rating agencies’ concerns with the US economy.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Econographics

Aug 3, 2023

Southern Europe is the continent’s new economic growth engine

By Sophia Busch and Phillip Meng

The Eurozone returned to growth in the second quarter of 2023. Yet this modest success story has not applied to everyone. Southern Europe’s major economies are driving European economic growth, thanks to roaring tourism and demand for services and luxury goods.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Econographics

Jul 31, 2023

China isn’t the only Asian country expanding its trade with Africa

By Phillip Meng

When it comes to Asia-Africa trade, many think of China first. But Beijing is not the only country growing ties. South Korea has accelerated trade, investment, and development initiatives—expanding trading volumes significantly.

Africa China

Econographics

Jul 27, 2023

The G20 still hasn’t made a breakthrough on sovereign debt restructuring

By Hung Tran

The G20’s recent meeting failed to make progress on sovereign debt restructuring, disappointing low and middle-income countries. Zambia’s deal favored China’s preferences, revealing the challenges in establishing an equitable framework for debt relief.

Africa China

Econographics

Jul 19, 2023

Global Sanctions Dashboard: Sanctions alone won’t stop the Wagner Group 

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, and Ryan Murphy

Existing sanctions against the Wagner Group, limitations around enforcing them, and what more Western allies can do to counter Wagner’s influence in Africa.

Africa Economic Sanctions

Econographics

Jul 12, 2023

Progress on debt restructuring provides a glimmer of hope for developing countries

By Jeremy Mark and Vasuki Shastry

As government and private-sector creditors finally take steps to restructure debt, questions remain over their readiness to meaningfully reduce debt burdens.

Africa China

Econographics

Jun 27, 2023

Lessons from the Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact

By Hung Tran

Dressing up concrete measures as parts of a “new global financial architecture” risks conflating them with the geopolitical conflict about the future of the current world order.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Jun 21, 2023

How ESG investing can better serve sustainable development

By Nisha Narayanan

2022 revealed several roadblocks preventing ESG from contributing to sustainable development. To change course, more clarity and agreement from both private data providers and from regulators is necessary.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

Jun 19, 2023

China is losing Eastern Europe

By Sona Muzikarova

Eastern Europe was once touted as China’s economic ‘gateway to Europe,’ but China’s failure to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine has put strain on the relationship.

China Eastern Europe
Load More

Content

Econographics

Apr 11, 2022

Democratic challenges at Bretton Woods Institutions

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

Voting quotas at Bretton Woods Institutions continue reflecting the 1944 power structure, despite significant changes to the global economy.

Africa Americas

Econographics

Mar 25, 2022

Beijing’s message to financial markets: We’re listening

By Daniel H. Rosen, Logan Wright

Chinese markets are in flux as they react to a domestic COVID outbreak, defaults by Chinese property developers, regulatory crackdowns against Chinese firms, and rising political risk associated with China’s alignment with Russia. The recent statement from the Financial Stability and Development Committee aims to stabilize this.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 24, 2022

Can one statement fundamentally calm market volatility in China?

By Victor Shih

On March 16th China's Financial Stability and Development

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 22, 2022

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine threatens a global wheat crisis 

By Niels Graham and Inbar Pe'er

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has rattled global wheat markets. Both nations account for nearly a third of global wheat exports leaving importers scrambling

China Macroeconomics

Econographics

Mar 18, 2022

US export controls aim to degrade Russia’s military

By Maia Nikoladze

As soon as the Russian military depletes current equipment, they will find it difficult to obtain critical technology for upgrading and maintaining aircrafts, ships, and weaponry used for waging an unjust war on Ukraine.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Econographics

Mar 18, 2022

Economic complexity emerges as a new restraint on wars of conquest

By George Pearkes

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlights the economic disincentives countries considering wars of conquest must reckon with.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 18, 2022

Internationalization of the Renmibi via bilateral swap lines

By Hung Tran

Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has triggered unprecedented sanctions being imposed by the US, Europe and other countries on various Russian entities. The most important measure so far is denying the Russian central bank access to most of its international reserves held in major world currencies.

China Digital Currencies

Econographics

Mar 11, 2022

Biden’s Executive Order on Digital Assets has been Released. Now What?

By Ananya Kumar

Biden signed an Executive Order on CBDCs, Stablecoins and Cryptocurrencies. What does this mean for the future of digital assets and their regulation in the United States?

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 9, 2022

Beyond oil, natural gas, and wheat: The commodity shock of Russia-Ukraine crisis

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The impact of Russia-Ukraine crisis on the global economy is much broader than oil, natural gas, and wheat. The commodity shock of the crisis and the resulting supply chain disruptions in many strategic industries threatens the global economic recovery and the fight against inflation.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Mar 7, 2022

Global Sanctions Dashboard: Special Russia edition

By Julia Friedlander, Maia Nikoladze, Charles Lichfield, Ananya Kumar and Castellum.AI

Sanctioning Russian Central Bank, cutting Russia off SWIFT, and Russia’s options for sanction-proofing its economy.

Belarus Conflict
Load More