Featured analysis

Ukraine’s grain exports are crucial to Africa’s food security

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
Ukraine’s grain exports are crucial to Africa’s food security

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
Ukraine’s grain exports are crucial to Africa’s food security

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

Bulk carrier ship in river port. Dry cargo grain elevator trade. Agrarian maritime facility. Cargo ship in the sea. Sunset view. factory on the water.

Econographics

Apr 5, 2024

Ukraine’s grain exports are crucial to Africa’s food security

By Yulia Bychkovska

Moscow is trying to increase Africa’s dependence on its imports by blocking the exports of Ukrainian grain. By helping Ukraine sell its grain, the West can offer the African continent an alternative to Russia’s grain and decrease Russia’s profits.

Africa Economic Sanctions

Econographics

Mar 28, 2024

Understanding the debate over IMF quota reform

By Hung Tran

The politics and mathematics of reform are tougher than they appear. A simple reform matching quotas to global economic weight will not be welcomed by many countries.

Africa China

Econographics

Mar 26, 2024

Housing costs are slowing down the US climate transition

By Joseph Webster

The US housing shortage has profound economic consequences. Less discussed is the fact that it is slowing down the US climate transition.

Energy Transitions Financial Regulation
World Bank-IMF Meeting in Marrakesh

Econographics

Mar 25, 2024

Making Africa a top priority for Bretton Woods Institutions

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

With deeper engagement of Bretton Woods institutions, African economies can seize the moment and become the engine of global growth.

Africa Fiscal and Structural Reform
Blue Globe viewing from space at night with connections between cities

Econographics

Mar 20, 2024

Global Sanctions Dashboard: How Hamas raises, uses, and moves money

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Ryan Murphy, and Alessandra Magazzino

How Hamas raises, uses, and moves money; How sanctions are used to counter Hamas and combat the financing of terrorism; Where governments align and diverge in their approaches to combat this activity.

Economic Sanctions European Union

Econographics

Mar 14, 2024

CBDCs will need to work across borders. Here are the models exploring how to do it

By Ananya Kumar, Alisha Chhangani

These innovative models reflect a clear realization in the both the public and private sector— as CBDCs become a part of the financial landscape, there needs to be a mechanism to interchange them across borders.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 12, 2024

Stalled growth in the UK, Germany, and Japan darken global economic outlook

By Josh Lipsky, Alisha Chhangani

The world's two largest economies won't be able to generate enough growth for the UK, Germany, and Japan—it is going to have to happen from within.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Econographics

Mar 8, 2024

How banking regulations affect US foreign policy

By Charles Lichfield

Economics, finance, and national security overlap. Obvious areas include sanctions and trade policy. But US foreign policymaker are now also expected to develop some knowledge of critical minerals . Banking regulations may seem a step too far, but they too carry foreign policy implications.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Econographics

Mar 7, 2024

Unpacking China’s 2024 growth target and economic agenda

By Hung Tran

At the opening of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Premier Li Quang delivered his first Government Work Report, setting the key economic and social policies and targets for this year.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 1, 2024

Climate, drought, and the disrupted future of global trade

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Sophia Busch

Climate change threatens the efficient functioning of waterways, canals, and seaports—and therefore is a major threat to global trade.

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business
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