Featured analysis

Global Sanctions Dashboard: March

Econographics May 29, 2025

After partial relief, what’s next for Syria sanctions?

By Alex Zerden

Syria remains a high-risk jurisdiction due to years of conflict, endemic corruption, state institution collapse, narcotrafficking of captagon, insufficient anti-money laundering efforts, and inadequate financing of terrorism controls.
Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
Global Sanctions Dashboard: March

Econographics May 27, 2025

Dispatch from London: Engaging Trump without alienating the rest

By Josh Lipsky, Charles Lichfield

The GeoEconomics team traveled across the pond for a series of meetings and events to determine if the recent US-UK trade deal could be a template for other countries seeking accords with the United States.
Economy & Business International Markets
Global Sanctions Dashboard: March

Sinographs Jun 2, 2025

Hong Kong highlights China’s policy of decoupling from US financial markets

By Jeremy Mark

The political benefits of an international financial center with Chinese characteristics will outweigh the pain that decoupling inflicts on China’s private sector.
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

Sep 12, 2024

It’s not too early to start grading Jerome Powell’s historic tenure

By Josh Lipsky and Benjamin Lenain

Jerome Powell’s legacy hinges on his bold monetary actions during crises and how effectively these interventions will be unwound in the future.

Economy & Business Macroeconomics

Econographics

Sep 6, 2024

The problems with the IMF surcharge system

By Hung Tran

The IMF’s surcharge system is doing more harm than good for borrowing countries and its justifications are facing new questions.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

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
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Content

EconoGraphics

Apr 14, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: March

By Julia Friedlander, Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

Growing international sanctions response to Chinese behavior, the Iran nuclear deal talks in Vienna, and the crisis in Myanmar.

China Economic Sanctions

EconoGraphics

Mar 22, 2021

China’s ‘Two Sessions’ goes off script

By Niels Graham, Josh Lipsky

Since their peak in mid-February, Chinese markets have lost $1.3 trillion dollars in value. The market route was likely caused by Beijing’s announcement of tighter fiscal policy and worries about inflation risks in America. Nevertheless, it is still unclear if the Chinese can tolerate the kind of volatility capitalist countries are accustomed to.

China Financial Regulation

EconoGraphics

Mar 19, 2021

Happy St Pats to Ireland: Boom, bust, and recovery for Europe’s most resilient

By GeoEconomics Center

This week, the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center dressed in green and took a moment to reflect on the Irish economy, one of the most resilient in the European Union.

Digital Policy Eurozone

EconoGraphics

Mar 11, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: February

By Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

Aligning with allies against human rights abusers and authoritarian regimes, lack of coordinated response to the ongoing genocide in Xinjiang.

China Economic Sanctions

EconoGraphics

Mar 10, 2021

How much money is the G20 spending?

By GeoEconomics Center

Our new fiscal firepower heat map, updated through March 2021, shows how G20 COVID-19 crisis spending now compares to the Global Financial Crisis. While nearly every country is deploying its fiscal firepower significantly more than a decade ago, China is still spending less.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Feb 19, 2021

How Janet Yellen can help deliver the digital dollar

By Josh Lipsky, JP Schnapper-Casteras

What precisely will the US Treasury Department do about the rise of digital currencies? Secretary Yellen and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell should quickly harness the potential of these evolving financial tools, including a US-backed digital dollar.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

EconoGraphics

Feb 12, 2021

Time for transatlantic trade to take off

By Ole Moehr

Trade tariffs continue to pose a threat to a transatlantic economy weakened by COVID-19, but there may now be some light at the end of the tunnel. Keen to rebuild transatlantic ties, Washington and Brussels must walk the talk to reach an agreement on aircraft subsidies and move the US-EU trade agenda forward.

European Union Trade and tariffs

EconoGraphics

Feb 12, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: January

By Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

Growing use of sanctions in foreign policy, Chinese sanctions against US senators, multilateral coordination on the sanctions policy.

China Economic Sanctions

EconoGraphics

Feb 3, 2021

ANT Group IPO compromise shows that foreign investment in China will only go so far

By GeoEconomics Center

Last December, Chinese President Xi Jinping blocked ANT Group’s planned IPO and no one was quite sure what would come next. Then news broke this morning that ANT Group and Chinese regulators reached an agreement to restructure the fintech giant into a financial holding company. As a financial holding company, ANT must abide by a […]

China Financial Regulation

EconoGraphics

Jan 21, 2021

Addressing African debt burdens

By Stefan de Villiers

Across the world, COVID-19 has ravaged economies and government revenues. For many sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations, that has tipped the delicate balance of debt. Zambia was the first affected, defaulting on debt obligations in November. Many more must take action to avoid the same fate, including Angola, Gabon, Ghana, and Kenya, among others.

Africa Fiscal and Structural Reform
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