Featured analysis

The next 120 days of predictably volatile trade policy

Econographics May 12, 2025

Multilateralism under pressure: Takeaways from the 2025 IMF Spring Meetings

By Bart Piasecki

The 2025 IMF Spring Meetings unfolded against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and rising doubts about the future of multilateral cooperation. Here are the key insights.
International Financial Institutions Macroeconomics
The next 120 days of predictably volatile trade policy

Econographics May 8, 2025

Pope Leo XIV’s electors represented Catholics’ changing economic distribution

By Israel Rosales

While the direction Pope Leo XIV will take the Church is unclear at this early stage, he’s unlikely to reverse Pope Francis’s push to elevate voices from the Global South.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
The next 120 days of predictably volatile trade policy

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

The view of boats on the red Sea.

Econographics

Jan 8, 2024

The long shadow of the Red Sea shipping disruption

By Alex Mills

Recent attacks on shipping moving through the red sea have exposed broader risks around international maritime commerce. Policy makers must use this wake-up call to build a more resilient international shipping ecosystem.

East Africa Economy & Business

Econographics

Jan 3, 2024

Five under-the-radar economic trends that could define 2024

By Josh Lipsky, Sophia Busch

We picked five under-the-radar trends that will matter for the global economy in 2024. Each shows the potential weak spots in the global economy alongside the forces that could stabilize growth.

China Economy & Business
Building with EU flags

Econographics

Dec 19, 2023

Three next steps for the EU’s approach to economic security

By Elmar Hellendoorn

The EU’s Strategy on Economic Security, published this summer, was the first official effort to present a more coherent view on the European policy approach at the intersection of economics and geopolitics. In the end, however, the EU’s approach to economic security can only be successful if it is tied to Europe’s long-term political objectives.

Economic Sanctions European Union
Ships on Red Sea

Econographics

Dec 18, 2023

What attacks in the Red Sea could mean for the global economy

By Hung Tran

Recent missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels have escalated regional tensions and disrupted global trade. Large shipping companies are now avoiding the route, causing significant costs and delays, which is impacting the the already fragile economy.

Economy & Business International Markets

Econographics

Dec 11, 2023

China’s manufacturing overcapacity threatens global green goods trade

By Niels Graham

Chinese lending is exacerbating a growing glut in its green manufacturing sector. Beijing is increasingly looking abroad to absorb excess capacity. This may have devastating effects for the global trading system as economies move to protect their own domestic industry.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Dec 7, 2023

Germany’s debt brake isn’t working

By Hung Tran

Germany’s coalition government was dealt a fiscal crisis when the country’s Constitutional Court ruled that repurposing €60 billion of unspent money from the pandemic emergency support facility to the Climate and Transformation Fund was unconstitutional.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

Dec 1, 2023

Financialization has increased economic fragility

By Hung Tran

Since the 1980s, financial activities and assets have played an increasingly dominant role in the global economy. At the same time, underlying economic activity as measured by global GDP has been growing more slowly. The result has been an ever-larger gap between the volume and value of financial activity relative to the real economy. And […]

Financial Regulation International Markets

Econographics

Nov 30, 2023

Geoeconomic fragmentation is threatening the green energy transition

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The energy transition depends on trade—and on China. Geoeconomic fragmentation could impact global climate targets.

Africa China

Econographics

Nov 16, 2023

CBDCs will further fragment the global economy—and could threaten the dollar

By Hung Tran, Barbara C. Matthews

Divergent regulatory and technological standards are evolving along geopolitical fault lines. Such an outcome would be costly.

China Digital Currencies

Econographics

Nov 14, 2023

The economic implications of a federal government shutdown

By Niels Graham

For the third time this year, stalemate in Washington is again threatening the US economic outlook. If Congress is unable to agree on a funding bill by November 17, the federal government will be forced to halt most discretionary spending. Depending on its length and severity, this shutdown could rattle global bond markets, increase November […]

Economy & Business International Markets
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Econographics

May 16, 2025

The next 120 days of predictably volatile trade policy

By Barbara C. Matthews

The understandable relief associated with de-escalating the tariff war will soon fade as we enter a long, uncertain summer of tariff pauses and major negotiations. Take a look at some convenings that might be important.

Economy & Business International Markets

AfricaSource

May 15, 2025

African governments should rethink their approach to combating money laundering and terrorist financing

By Benjamin Mossberg

African countries can bolster financial inclusion and tap economic growth opportunities—while preventing the abuse of the global financial system by nefarious actors.

Africa Digital Currencies

EconoGraphics

May 13, 2025

Basel III endgame: The specter of global regulatory fragmentation

By Hung Tran

Diverging timelines for Basel III implementation are fragmenting global financial regulation. As major economies delay or dilute reforms, coordinated oversight erodes—posing renewed risks to international financial stability.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

May 12, 2025

Multilateralism under pressure: Takeaways from the 2025 IMF Spring Meetings

By Bart Piasecki

The 2025 IMF Spring Meetings unfolded against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and rising doubts about the future of multilateral cooperation. Here are the key insights.

International Financial Institutions Macroeconomics

Econographics

May 8, 2025

Pope Leo XIV’s electors represented Catholics’ changing economic distribution

By Israel Rosales

While the direction Pope Leo XIV will take the Church is unclear at this early stage, he’s unlikely to reverse Pope Francis’s push to elevate voices from the Global South.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

EconoGraphics

Apr 30, 2025

US-EU sanctions divergence would spell trouble for multinational companies

By Jesse Sucher

The fracturing of traditional alliances carries significant consequences for companies facing multijurisdictional compliance obligations, meaning an already complex situation will become more chaotic.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Fintech Frontlines

Apr 21, 2025

Fast payments in action: Emerging lessons from Brazil and India

By Polina Kempinsky

These lessons are shaping a framework governments can use to evaluate their need for central bank-led immediate payment systems, their potential structure, organizational features, and the trade-offs involved.

Brazil Digital Currencies

Econographics

Apr 17, 2025

Russia Sanctions Database

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Lize de Kruijf

The Atlantic Council’s Russia Sanctions Database tracks the level of coordination among Western allies in sanctioning Russian entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft, and shows where gaps still remain.

Eastern Europe Economic Sanctions

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

Econographics

Mar 19, 2025

Investment screening reform may stifle international investment in US

By Alex Mills

The Trump administration wants to reform the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US. But what does this actually mean for US industry, investment, and innovation?

Economy & Business Financial Regulation
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