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

Dec 20, 2024

A policy blueprint for the Trump administration’s outbound investment screening regime

By Kit Conklin

As the Trump administration enters its second term, addressing economic and military threats posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will remain a cornerstone of its foreign policy and legislative agenda. One area primed for action is the expansion of outbound investment restrictions targeting companies and securities associated with the PRC’s military.

Americas China

New Atlanticist

Dec 16, 2024

Once again, China pushes for economic stimulus, hoping for a different result

By Jeremy Mark

Chinese leader Xi Jinping continues to adopt stimulus measures that fail to confront the country’s structural economic challenges.

China Economy & Business
G20 Summit in Rio

Econographics

Nov 27, 2024

Divided COP29 and G20 Summits: A taste of things to come

By Hung Tran

President-Elect Trump’s “America First” approach is already raising concerns at the G20 and COP29.

Brazil Climate Change & Climate Action

Econographics

Nov 22, 2024

Sanctions expectations in a second Trump administration

By Daniel Tannebaum

Sanctions are poised to remain a cornerstone of US foreign policy under a second Trump administration. With a focus on Iran, Russia, and potentially China, Trump’s team may lean on tools like secondary sanctions while navigating a tense geopolitical environment.

China Economic Sanctions

Sinographs

Nov 22, 2024

The United States has trade leverage with China, but not as much as Washington thinks

By Josh Lipsky, Mrugank Bhusari

Diversification away from China is proving far more difficult for high value-added goods such as electronics – and the incoming Trump administration knows that.

China Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Nov 4, 2024

How data control is driving a new US-China economic divide 

By Jesse Sucher

China’s increased restrictions on corporate and financial data make it difficult for the United States and allies to enforce economic statecraft tools like sanctions and supply chain safeguards.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Nov 1, 2024

The underestimated implications of the BRICS Summit in Russia

By Hung Tran

It is a mistake for the West to dismiss the power of symbolism and narratives in the geopolitical competition for global influence.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Oct 31, 2024

Financial sanctions can disrupt fentanyl flows to the United States

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Mikael Pir-Budagyan, and Grace Kim

Fentanyl is one of the leading causes of death among young and middle-aged Americans. Financial sanctions should be used more frequently by the US government to tactically disrupt the trade of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

China Economic Sanctions

Econographics

Oct 22, 2024

A crack in the BRICS: Iran’s economic challenges take center stage at Russia’s summit 

By Josh Lipsky, Alisha Chhangani

The reality is that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will show up to the BRICS leaders meeting and look for support across the BRICS not only in the military domain, but also for his country’s economy.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Econographics

Oct 18, 2024

The rising influence of geopolitics in economic crisis support

By Patrick Ryan and Amulya Natchukuri

Newer insurance mechanisms such as bilateral swap lines and regional financing arrangements are increasingly being used as political footballs.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation
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