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.

Featured analysis

Iran can still normalize its economy—but the path will be painful and slow

Econographics Nov 12, 2025

Yes, tech stocks have taken a hit. But the real danger lies elsewhere.

By Hung Tran

Tech stocks’ sharp selloff has grabbed headlines, but the real risk may be in tightening US dollar funding. As the Fed drains liquidity and repo rates surge above policy benchmarks, hedge funds and foreign banks—holding trillions in dollar assets—face rising pressure. The danger isn’t just market volatility, but whether global finance can withstand a squeeze in the world’s core funding system.
Economy & Business
Iran can still normalize its economy—but the path will be painful and slow

Econographics Sep 16, 2025

The Supreme Court’s decision on Trump tariffs will have lasting impact on US economic statecraft

By Stephanie Connor

Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, the case will shape US economic policy for years to come.
Economy & Business Trade and tariffs
Iran can still normalize its economy—but the path will be painful and slow

Fintech Frontlines Aug 25, 2025

Everybody wants a stablecoin, even China

By Ananya Kumar

From Beijing’s perspective, a successful offshore yuan-denominated stablecoin could replace some existing yuan transactions, increase the purchases of offshore bonds, and even make them technologically more efficient.
China Digital Currencies

Latest analysis

Econographics

Nov 8, 2023

How digitalization can improve climate resilience in the Global South

By Camilla Valente and Saffiyah Coker

Digitalization offers a novel opportunity to build climate resilience if properly supported by the Bretton Woods Institutions.

Economy & Business
International Financial Institutions

Econographics

Nov 7, 2023

What to expect from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum

By Niels Graham

On November 15th US will host the Annual APEC Forum. There, the US is expected to make major announcements around its regional trade agreement, bilateral investment commitments, and a meeting with China’s Xi Jinping.

Australia
China
World with currencies

Econographics

Nov 6, 2023

Central bank digital currency evolution in 2023: From investigation to preparation

By Alisha Chhangani

Explore CBDC evolution in 2023, including key developments from central banks and what is next for the digital euro.

Digital Currencies
Economy & Business

Econographics

Nov 1, 2023

Russia Sanctions Database: November 2023

Explore featured insight part of the November 2023 edition of Atlantic Council’s Russia Sanctions Database.

Russia
Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Sunday Oct. 15, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS

Econographics

Oct 30, 2023

Israel’s neighbors are in dire financial straits. Here’s what that could mean for the war in Gaza.

By Josh Lipsky

While past flashpoints posed challenges for Israel’s neighbors, they did not have to contend with the risk of recession or worse at the same time. That means that economic statecraft by the United States and its partners could be particularly effective in navigating the current crisis.

Economy & Business
Israel

Econographics

Oct 27, 2023

The status of labor rights in US trade policy

By Uma Menon

US trade policy can advance labor rights globally through stronger enforcement mechanisms and deeper multilateral collaboration with international organizations.

China
Economy & Business

Econographics

Oct 26, 2023

Global Sanctions Dashboard: How Iran evades sanctions and finances terrorist organizations like Hamas

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Ryan Murphy, and Yulia Bychkovska

Iran’s financing of Hamas and other terrorist organizations; UAE’s role in facilitating Iran and Russia sanctions evasion; lifting of UN sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program.

European Union
Financial Regulation

Econographics

Oct 24, 2023

Creditors are still not doing enough to relieve developing country debt: A tale of two confabs

By Vasuki Shastry and Jeremy Mark

The fragmentation on display at the IMF – WB Annual Meetings and the BRI Anniversary event doesn’t bode well for deeply indebted developing countries.

Africa
China

Econographics

Oct 20, 2023

Breaking down China and India’s race to represent the Global South

By Hung Tran

The divergences between them will define geopolitics.

Economy & Business
G20

Econographics

Oct 5, 2023

By the numbers: Here’s how turmoil in Congress could impact US aid to Ukraine

By Yulia Bychkovska and Charles Lichfield

The US aid to Ukraine can continue to flow for the next few weeks but the recent events make the outlook for US aid more difficult.

Economy & Business
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
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Content

Econographics

Feb 6, 2026

Iran can still normalize its economy—but the path will be painful and slow

By Bart Piasecki

Iran’s inflation crisis is driven by persistent exchange‑rate instability, entrenched fiscal dominance, and international sanctions. Despite these structural challenges, there remains a clear—but difficult—path toward economic normalization.

Dollar Dominance
Economy & Business

Econographics

Feb 4, 2026

What the data shows—and doesn’t show—about the future of the dollar

By Hung Tran

Is there genuine demand to “sell America,” or does the recent dollar weakness fall within historical fluctuations? More data will be needed to answer that question.

Dollar Dominance
Economy & Business

Econographics

Feb 4, 2026

Understanding the vibe shift on the dollar

By Daniel McDowell, Bart Piasecki, Jessie Yin

Gold prices surged to record highs last week, driven by trade tensions, tariffs, and dollar uncertainty. For some, the rally signals rising skepticism about the greenback’s stability—even as policymakers insist the US remains committed to a strong dollar.

Dollar Dominance
Economy & Business

Econographics

Jan 28, 2026

China’s property slump deepens—and threatens more than the housing sector

By Jeremy Mark

China's property sector slump is in its fifth year, with no end in sight. This poses real risks to the banking system and the country's financial stability.

China
Economy & Business

Econographics

Jan 26, 2026

Africa enters 2026 facing a debt crisis. The answer lies in regional solutions.

By Juliet Lancey

The solution to debt crises in African nations lies in global and regional cooperation.

Africa
Financial Regulation

Econographics

Jan 22, 2026

When will Wall Street’s tolerance for uncertainty run out?

By Jessie Yin, Josh Lipsky

In a decade of geoeconomic shocks, few events have truly shaken investor confidence. But Wall Street may be too complacent to political volatility.

Economy & Business
Macroeconomics

Econographics

Jan 22, 2026

As markets turn volatile, leverage is back in the spotlight

By Hung Tran

Market turmoil has returned, highlighting how rising leverage plays a part in making the global financial system more fragile and vulnerable to shocks.

Economy & Business
Financial Regulation

Econographics

Jan 15, 2026

What to watch as China prepares its digital yuan for prime time

By Alisha Chhangani

The changes China is implementing around the e-CNY signal a more mature phase for the digital yuan—and an overall shift toward a much broader geopolitical ambition.

China
Digital Currencies

EconoGraphics

Jan 12, 2026

Rare earth mining could solve, not worsen, Central Asia’s water troubles

By Andrew D’Anieri

States in the region can capture a net “water dividend” by reinvesting mining revenues in water-saving infrastructure and technologies.

Central Asia
Critical Minerals

Econographics

Nov 25, 2025

Why the Millennium Challenge Corporation is vital to the future of US competitiveness

By Sohan Dasgupta

The United States is leveraging its unmatched economic power to reshape global partnerships, secure critical resources, and counter adversaries. Through a retooled Millennium Challenge Corporation, Washington is forging strategic alliances, strengthening supply chains, and opening billion-person markets for American companies.

Economy & Business
United States and Canada
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