Featured analysis

Latest analysis

Sunset at the Treasury Department

Econographics

May 23, 2023

There is no alternative to US Treasuries

By Josh Lipsky

In the wake of a US default, investors searching for safe assets may have no viable alternative to US Treasuries.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

May 19, 2023

Can FedNow bring the US closer to real-time payments?

By Piret Loone

This year, the US will launch its FedNow instant payment network. But even after FedNow launches, the US will still have a ways to go before consumers can access instantaneous digital payments.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

May 15, 2023

The US debt ceiling stalemate threatens money market funds—and financial stability

By Hung Tran

Money markets would be the first to react to a debt ceiling breach, heightening market turmoil at the wrong time and helping to raise the odds of a severe recession.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

May 10, 2023

What is the G7 still exporting to Russia? 

By Niels Graham

One year into the Russia’s invasion G7 nations continue to export nearly $5B a month to Moscow. A new proposal by the US at the G7 could greatly reduce this.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Econographics

May 8, 2023

Japan’s monetary trilemma is a warning to the world

By Mark Siegel

High inflation, high levels of debt, and uncertain financial stability – Washington, London, Brussels, Frankfurt and beyond have much to learn from Tokyo’s experience.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Econographics

May 1, 2023

Russia Sanctions Database: May 2023

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

Russia Ukraine

Econographics

Apr 27, 2023

The root causes of geopolitical fragmentation

By Hung Tran

Geoeconomic fragmentation is on the rise. Policymakers need to address the root causes: inequality left in the wake of globalization, and the crisis of trust between major countries.

Americas China

Econographics

Apr 26, 2023

Why emerging markets are stocking up on gold

By Phillip Meng

Financial stability concerns, sanctions, and inflation contributed to the largest net purchases of gold in over seventy years last year—raising questions about its potential role in de-dollarization.

Africa Americas

Econographics

Apr 24, 2023

Practice makes perfect: What China wants from its digital currency in 2023

By Ananya Kumar

The e-CNY network has expanded over the last year, and China’s goals have only become clearer. Domestically, the People’s Bank of China is still in test-and-learn mode, globally, China is more focused on setting defining international standards.

China Cybersecurity

Econographics

Apr 20, 2023

The US is relying more on China for pharmaceuticals—and vice versa 

By Niels Graham

US China trade of pharmaceutical and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is rapidly increasing. Supply chain mapping will be key to risk management

China Economy & Business

Content

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

Econographics

Aug 22, 2025

Trump’s challenges to the Fed’s independence loom over Jackson Hole Symposium

By Alisha Chhangani

As Trump tests the limits of what he can do, the credibility of the Fed—and by extension, global financial stability—is increasingly at risk.

Economy & Business International Markets

Sinographs

Jul 31, 2025

Beijing extends and pretends to deal with its mountain of local government debt

By Jeremy Mark

Beijing's three-year local debt restructuring plan fails to actually address the trillions of dollars weighing on local governments and will only cause greater problems down the road.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 29, 2025

Safeguarding Uyghur human rights: The US should leverage economic statecraft tools to end Uyghur forced labor

By Nazima Tursun

Through sanctions and the adoption of anti-forced labor legislation, the United States has led the global effort to combat China’s forced labor practices. While these measures have moved the needle in the fight against forced labor, widespread tariffs and the absence of new punitive measures targeting forced labor may cause progress to stagnate.

China Economic Sanctions

Econographics

Jul 21, 2025

Why European businesses are now stuck in the middle of an EU-China storm

By Alisha Chhangani

If relations continue to deteriorate, the world’s three major economies could find themselves in economic conflict and European businesses will be caught squarely in the middle. 

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 17, 2025

Charting a strategic path for Syria’s postwar reconstruction

By Kimberly Donovan, Jonathan Panikoff, Lize de Kruijf, Manal Fatima

As Syria emerges from over a decade of conflict, easing sanctions by the United States, the European Union (EU), and other European partners is an important step toward reintegrating Syria into the global economy. Yet, for a country that has been economically isolated for over fourteen years, lifting sanctions is only the beginning.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 14, 2025

Injecting new life into Europe’s life science industry to improve competitiveness

By Emma Nix

US turmoil under Trump has shaken the life sciences sector, prompting top researchers to consider leaving. Europe now has a rare chance to attract this talent and revive its biotech and pharma industries—but only if it moves quickly and decisively before China does.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 10, 2025

The stablecoin race

By Hung Tran, Barbara C. Matthews

Each country’s agenda is motivated by questions about the sustainability of the dollar’s dominant global role.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business
Stablecoins

Fintech Frontlines

Jul 8, 2025

Stablecoins are trending, but what frictions and risks are getting overlooked?

By Ashley Lannquist

Stablecoin usage is complex for consumers, and large-scale adoption could introduce new challenges for financial stability and regulatory oversight.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 7, 2025

Building BRICS

By Bart Piasecki

Fifteen years after its founding, BRICS has evolved into a formidable counterweight to Western dominance in global economic governance. Yet despite its growing influence, the bloc’s ability to translate bold rhetoric into concrete results remains uncertain.

Brazil China