Featured analysis

Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

Econographics Aug 22, 2025

Trump’s challenges to the Fed’s independence loom over Jackson Hole Symposium

By Alisha Chhangani

As Trump tests the limits of what he can do, the credibility of the Fed—and by extension, global financial stability—is increasingly at risk.
Economy & Business International Markets
Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

Econographics Jul 17, 2025

Charting a strategic path for Syria’s postwar reconstruction

By Kimberly Donovan, Jonathan Panikoff, Lize de Kruijf, Manal Fatima

As Syria emerges from over a decade of conflict, easing sanctions by the United States, the European Union (EU), and other European partners is an important step toward reintegrating Syria into the global economy. Yet, for a country that has been economically isolated for over fourteen years, lifting sanctions is only the beginning.
Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

Fintech Frontlines Jul 8, 2025

Stablecoins are trending, but what frictions and risks are getting overlooked?

By Ashley Lannquist

Stablecoin usage is complex for consumers, and large-scale adoption could introduce new challenges for financial stability and regulatory oversight.
Digital Currencies 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

Mar 13, 2023

Silicon Valley Bank failed: What happens next?

By Hung Tran

Even if the contagion effects are contained, risks to the financial stability of the US and the world have increased significantly. The Fed can no longer focus only on bringing down inflation, but must also avoid exacerbating financial stability risks.

Economy & Business
Financial Regulation

Econographics

Jan 26, 2023

Global Sanctions Dashboard: How sanctions will further squeeze the Russian economy in 2023

By Charles Lichfield, Maia Nikoladze, and Castellum.AI

The effects of sanctions on the Russian economy; Venezuela’s pursuit of lifting energy sanctions; the plans for screening EU-US outbound investment going into China.

China
Economic Sanctions

Econographics

Jan 23, 2023

Russian finance pivots east

By Niels Graham

Starting in 2014 and accelerating after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow launched a financial pivot toward China. While it initially worked for both countries, economic stress in China as well as the risk of overreliance on Beijing may hinder its future success

China
Economic Sanctions

EconoGraphics

Jan 14, 2023

Global Economic Events Calendar

By GeoEconomics Center

The Global Economic Events Calendar tracks key central bank meetings, major data releases, and significant international economic and political events

Economy & Business

Econographics

Jan 9, 2023

Fed reverse repos hit a new record: An unhealthy development

By Hung Tran

The Fed’s large footprint in private short-term financial transactions will have largely negative implications for the US financial system and economy.

Economy & Business
Macroeconomics

Econographics

Dec 15, 2022

A different monetary policy path in 2023

By Ole Moehr

Decisions and statements this week from the Fed, ECB, and the BOE tell us how they will each deploy tools at their disposal differently in 2023.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Econographics

Dec 8, 2022

The numbers that drove China’s Zero-COVID policy

By Niels Graham

China’s adherence to zero-COVID was primarily driven by poor vaccination rates among seniors and weak health care infrastructure. As the country opens, both factors remain key health risks.

China
Coronavirus

Econographics

Nov 23, 2022

US-China competition after the US midterms and the CCP 20th Congress

By Hung Tran

For the first time since becoming President, Joe Biden met face-to-face with Secretary General Xi Jinping on November 14, 2022, at the outset of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia. Against the backdrop of rising tensions between the two countries, the United States hoped it would “put a floor under the relationship.” But the recent […]

China
Economy & Business

Econographics

Nov 17, 2022

Global Sanctions Dashboard: What’s coming in 2023?

By Charles Lichfield, Maia Nikoladze, and Castellum.AI

Fall sanctions against Russia and Iran; implications of US semiconductor export controls against China; projected sanctions trends in 2023.

China
Economic Sanctions

Econographics

Nov 11, 2022

The target of limiting global warming to less than 1.5 degrees is practically dead. Why do emissions per capita matter?

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

Achieving the target to limit global warming to below 2, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius, by the end of the century seems more unfeasible than ever. The reason is simple. The most critical of greenhouse gases have continuously risen in the past decade and CO2 emissions are only expected to grow more in 2022 and for the foreseeable future. COP27 needs to pave the path for a renewed international cooperative and enforceable framework to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by the world’s top emitters both in absolute terms and in per capita terms.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Economy & Business
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Content

EconoGraphics

Feb 6, 2018

Secondary Sanctions: A First Glance

By Ole Moehr

This edition of our EconoGraphic blog explains the difference between primary and secondary sanctions, outlines how secondary sanctions work, and uses a case study to demonstrate how the United States employs secondary sanctions in the real economy.

China
Economic Sanctions

EconoGraphics

Jan 22, 2018

The Irish Border Question

By Ole Moehr

The future of the Irish border is one of the key sticking points in the ongoing Brexit negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).

Economy & Business
European Union

EconoGraphics

Dec 22, 2017

Parties Supporting Independence Win Slim Majority, But Catalonia’s Complex Stalemate Continues

By Michael Farquharson & Alvaro Morales Salto-Weis

The outcome of yesterday’s regional elections in Catalonia reflects the electorate’s deep polarization on the issue of regional independence.

Economy & Business
Southern & Southeastern Europe

EconoGraphics

Dec 12, 2017

Catalonia: Secession Recession?

By Michael Farquharson & Alvaro Morales Salto-Weis

The region of Catalonia will hold critical elections on December 21. The stakes are high: the region unilaterally declared its independence on October 1 and subsequently saw the rule of its regional government suspended by Madrid’s central government pursuant to Article 155 of the Spanish constitution.

Economy & Business
Southern & Southeastern Europe

EconoGraphics

Nov 27, 2017

Tariff on the Rising Sun

By Michael Farquharson & Ole Moehr

In April of this year, Suniva, a Chinese-owned, US-based solar manufacturer filed a rarely-used Section 201 petition with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), requesting the imposition of minimum prices for solar module imports into the United States. In May, German-based SolarWorld joined Suniva’s petition, and in September, the ITC ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ultimately recommending up to a 35 percent tariff on imported solar modules.

Economy & Business
Renewables & Advanced Energy

EconoGraphics

Nov 7, 2017

Multilateral Sanctions: Brexit Wrecks-it?

By Michael Farquharson & Ole Moehr

On October 3, 2017, the Atlantic Council hosted a conference with experts from the public and private sector to discuss the impact of Brexit on economic sanctions policymaking. The United Kingdom (UK) currently plays a considerable role crafting and implementing sanctions policy in the European Union (EU). Transatlantic cooperation and sanctions alignment are vital to ensure the effectiveness of this essential foreign policy tool.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Oct 20, 2017

The US Infrastruct-cure

By Michael Farquharson & Ole Moehr

Infrastructure investment stimulates economic growth. According to McKinsey & Company, an increase in infrastructure investment equal to 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) would convert into an additional 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs in the United States. America’s infrastructure is in a state of disrepair.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

EconoGraphics

Sep 25, 2017

Crude Awakening

By Ole Moehr

On August 2, 2017, US President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R.3364, a new set of economic sanctions aimed primarily on Russia (with additional measures adopted against Iran and North Korea). Essential to the success of any sanctions regime is its alignment.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Jul 25, 2017

The Apprentice

By Samuel Weitzman

On June 15, 2017, US President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13801, which sought “to promote affordable education and rewarding jobs for American workers” by increasing the number of apprenticeship opportunities. Trump’s stated goals are ambitious. With a proposed ApprenticeshipUSA budget of $200 million (roughly double the previous amount), the president wants to increase the number of US apprenticeships from 505,000 in 2016 to 5 million by 2022.

Economy & Business
United States and Canada

EconoGraphics

Jul 6, 2017

The Big Chill(ing effect)

By Samuel Weitzman

In March 2014, the United States and the European Union (EU) issued the first in a series of sanctions against the Russian Federation for its destabilization of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. These restrictions, which initially focused on senior Russian government officials and private individuals, have expanded to include large corporations, financial institutions, and even entire economic sectors. In retaliation, Russia has adopted counter-sanctions of its own.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business
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