Econographics

For warning signs of the next global financial crisis, watch the activities of both banks and nonbanks

By Hung Tran

The activities that trigger financial crises can be undertaken by any financial institution, including both banks and nonbanks.

As the US targets Brazil’s payment system, Europe should pay close attention 

By Alisha Chhangani

In its determination on Brazil’s trade practices, the USTR has zeroed in on the instant payment system Pix—raising alarms not only in Brasília but also in Brussels.

What the US can learn from Europe on prediction markets—and vice versa

By Todd Phillips

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have surged to billions in trading volume, prompting US investigations into insider trading and manipulation. As Congress weighs new rules, Europe’s crackdown on retail binary options offers a possible—if imperfect—regulatory template.

The promise and limits of the new G20 template for debt restructuring

By Hung Tran

A new G20 roadmap aims to streamline sovereign debt restructurings. Yet by reducing flexibility for creditors and debtors alike, it could make future debt crises harder to resolve.

Can Section 301 effectively replace IEEPA? That is the $166 billion question

By Madeline Chalecki

Citing forced labor concerns, the Trump administration has proposed new tariffs on imports from sixty economies—a first step toward rebuilding its tariff wall. Still, the outcome is far from certain.

As China’s surpluses become unbearable, the EU is edging toward its own Section 301

By Charles Lichfield, L. Daniel Mullaney, Jessie Yin

With Chinese industrial surpluses flooding global markets, the EU is quietly debating whether it should borrow from the US tariff toolkit—marking a potential shift toward a more assertive approach to Beijing.

Don’t call it a G7 comeback

By Bart Piasecki

The G7’s equity rebound may look broad-based. In reality, it’s largely a tale of US tech dominance, driven by the “Magnificent Seven” and an extraordinary concentration of global market power.

Energy Sanctions Dashboard: October 2025

The October 2025 edition of the Energy Sanctions Dashboard analyzed China’s central role in the market for sanctioned oil and the techniques Russia, Iran, and Venezuela use to evade sanctions on oil.

The global push for local-currency cross-border payments is intensifying

By Hung Tran

More than one hundred countries now operate instant payment systems, and growing efforts to link them are reshaping how cross-border transactions get settled in local currencies.

The IMF’s policy advice needs a louder voice

By Martin Mühleisen

At a time of energy shocks and trade tensions, the IMF’s surveillance work is more relevant than ever. Yet its challenge remains influence: can the Fund move from rigorous analysis to public-facing policy advice?