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 27, 2024

Going for gold: Does the dollar’s declining share in global reserves matter?

By Hung Tran

If gold—which has recently experienced a surge in purchases by many global central banks—is included in reserve asset portfolios, the share of the US dollar is smaller than what the IMF has highlighted.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

Sinographs

Aug 22, 2024

Why the next trade war with China may look very different from the last one

By Mrugank Bhusari

Far more countries share concerns over the impact of an expansion of Chinese exports. This time, they will likely target finished consumer goods over intermediary inputs.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Aug 14, 2024

Get ready for a volatile fall in the financial markets—but not necessarily a downturn

By Josh Lipsky, Alisha Chhangani

Between an election, the threat of conflict, and a slowing economy, there is likely to be more volatility in the months ahead. But volatility doesn’t mean a downturn—it just means there’s more uncertainty than usual. 

Economy & Business International Markets

Fintech Frontlines

Aug 12, 2024

Tech regulation requires balancing security, privacy, and usability 

By Karen Sowon, Giulia Fanti, JP Schnapper-Casteras

Good policy intentions can lead to unintended consequences when usability, privacy, and security are not balanced—policymakers must think like product designers to avoid these challenges.

Digital Policy East Africa

Econographics

Aug 8, 2024

What exactly is a strategic bitcoin reserve?

By Ananya Kumar

Bringing bitcoin into mainstream use is not reason enough to create a strategic bitcoin reserve. 

Digital Currencies Economy & Business
French National Assembly with Olympic statues

Econographics

Jul 26, 2024

What French economic policy may look like after the Olympics

By Charles Lichfield and Gustavo Romero

The snap parliamentary election in France produced no absolute majority, and negotiations on government formation have begun. As Macron’s centrists attempt to construct a broad coalition, what economic policies can they suggest to bring the center-left and center-right onside?

Economy & Business Elections

Sinographs

Jul 23, 2024

Key takeaways from China’s Third Plenum 2024

By Hung Tran

The communiqué of the Third Plenum of the CCP Central Committee lacks major policy initiatives to address the country’s near-term growth challenges.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 18, 2024

The Bretton Woods institutions need revitalizing. Luckily, they are no strangers to reform.

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The changing nature of the global economy is forcing these institutions to take a renewed look at their governance structure and mandates. This is not the first time they have had to do so.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Econographics

Jul 8, 2024

Who’s at 2 percent? Look how NATO allies have increased their defense spending since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

By Clara Falkenek

As NATO gathers for its summit in Washington, 23 of 32 allies now meet the 2 percent GDP defense spending target, highlighting a collective effort to strengthen the Alliance and support Ukraine.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
French snap election

Econographics

Jul 3, 2024

How are markets reacting to the French snap election?

By Sophia Busch, Charles Lichfield

The results of the first round of the French snap election led to diverging reactions in bond yields and stock prices.

Elections Eurozone
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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
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