What is the Bretton Woods 2.0 project?

The Bretton Woods Institutions were created in 1944 in the hopes that stronger international economic coordination would prevent another world war. Today, more than 80 years later, these institutions need to be revitalized and reimagined for a transformed global economy.

In an era of fierce geopolitical rivalries and unprecedented crises at a global scale, there is a profound need for reforms to the world’s monetary and financial system. But how exactly? What would a Bretton Woods system look like if it first emerged today?

Spring 2025 Meetings (Washington, DC)

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2024 Annual Meetings Events

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At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

Issue Brief

Mar 3, 2025

Financing the future: Unlocking private capital for global infrastructure and climate goals

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Nisha Narayanan, Hung Tran

MDBs and international financial institutions alone cannot bridge the climate and development financing gaps.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Issue Brief

Mar 3, 2025

Toward equitable debt contracts: Preventing de facto seniority-clause escalation in the sovereign lending space

By Lili Vessereau

China’s stringent clauses are hindering debt restructuring negotiations for low-income borrowers. Here’s how the IMF and World Bank can intervene.

China Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Mar 3, 2025

Fragmentation and the role of the IMF

By Patrick Ryan

Here’s how the IMF can adapt to ensure that the international system has an effective insurance mechanism.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Testimony

Feb 25, 2025

Martin Mühleisen testifies to House Committee on Financial Services on the role of multilateral financial institutions in competition with China

By Martin Mühleisen

On February 25, Senior Fellow Martin Mühleisen testified to the House Committee on Financial Services at a hearing titled, “Examining Policies to Counter China” 

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jan 3, 2025

Five big questions about the global economy in 2025

By Josh Lipsky, Sophia Busch

The answers to each of these questions will help determine the United States’ economic standing in the next twenty-five years.

China Digital Currencies

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2024

The IMF and World Bank did well under the first Trump administration. Will they again?

By Martin Mühleisen

The geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China has become more intense since Trump’s first term, which could affect how the incoming administration approaches the Bretton Woods institutions.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
G20 Summit in Rio

Econographics

Nov 27, 2024

Divided COP29 and G20 Summits: A taste of things to come

By Hung Tran

President-Elect Trump’s “America First” approach is already raising concerns at the G20 and COP29.

Brazil Climate Change & Climate Action

Econographics

Nov 1, 2024

The underestimated implications of the BRICS Summit in Russia

By Hung Tran

It is a mistake for the West to dismiss the power of symbolism and narratives in the geopolitical competition for global influence.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 23, 2024

Christine Lagarde on European competitiveness, US tariffs, and creating a digital euro 

By Daniel Hojnacki

The European Central Bank president discussed the European Union’s ambitions for becoming more competitive and modernizing its payments systems.

Economy & Business European Union

Bretton Woods 2.0

Oct 21, 2024

Get an inside look at the IMF-World Bank meetings as finance leaders navigate a geopolitically fragmented world

By Atlantic Council experts

To gauge whether delegates can revive the world’s spirit of cooperation at the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, we sent our experts to the center of the action in Foggy Bottom.

China Economy & Business

Content

New Atlanticist

Apr 11, 2024

IMF head Kristalina Georgieva on how to avoid ‘the Tepid Twenties’ for the global economy

By Katherine Golden

“Making the right policy choices will define the future of the world economy,” International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said at the Atlantic Council.

China Financial Regulation

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
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

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 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

New Atlanticist

Feb 21, 2024

What’s on Brazil’s G20 agenda? Start by looking at where India left off.

By Mrugank Bhusari, Ananya Kumar, Pepe Zhang, and Valentina Sader

As G20 foreign ministers kick off their meeting in Rio de Janeiro, expect to see the shared views of New Delhi and Brasília reflected in continuity between their G20 agendas.

Brazil Climate Change & Climate Action

Econographics

Jan 19, 2024

The IMF’s perspective on CBDCs

By Tobias Adrian

Tobias Adrian outlines the IMF's view on CBDCs' potential for payment systems, financial inclusion, and cross-border payments, emphasizing innovation and collaboration for effective implementation.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

Issue Brief

Jan 16, 2024

Developing an agenda for international financial institutions and central bank digital currency

By Greg Brownstein and Utsav Saksena

Is the emerging architecture appropriate, effective, and sufficient to manage the global transition to digital money? This report focuses on three domains: financial stability, development and financial inclusion, and global payment systems.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Jan 16, 2024

Governance reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions

By Sienna Nordquist and Joel Christoph

The paper emphasizes the need for a governance reform roadmap at the IMF and World Bank focusing on quota reallocation, diplomatic efforts, and a commitment to diversity and democratic principles.

Economy & Business European Union

Issue Brief

Jan 16, 2024

Navigating subsidy reform at the WTO

By Sona Muzikarova and Sophia Busch

The legitimacy of the World Trade Organization is in question. The United States and its allies, and leaders in the organization, can better wield its potential to address global issues, specifically to reduce inefficiencies from fragmentation caused by subsidies.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform