Programs

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.

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Featured Analysis

Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Issue Brief Apr 28, 2025

Modernizing the tools of economic statecraft to meet the challenges of today

By Lesley Chavkin, Eitan Danon, Kimberly Donovan, Andrew Gallucci, and Caroline Hill

As the current administration revisits the functions and mechanics of government, near-term steps can be taken, under existing statutory authorities, to modernize how the United States uses its economic strength to combat national security threats and promote American interests.
Economy & Business Financial Regulation
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Fast Thinking Apr 22, 2025

Is the global economy headed for a reset, recession, or both?

By Atlantic Council

The International Monetary Fund has just released its latest World Economic Outlook. Atlantic Council experts dig into the details.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Fast Thinking Apr 10, 2025

What to expect as Trump’s trade war zeroes in on China

By Atlantic Council

On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced that he would suspend many of his “liberation day” import tariffs—but he raised the tariff on China to 145 percent.
China Economy & Business
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

New Atlanticist Apr 7, 2025

The IMF is a good deal for the US. Here’s how Trump can help make it even more effective.

By Elizabeth Shortino

The institution provides the United States a significant source of economic leverage, helps prevent financial crises, and serves as a counterweight to China’s influence.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

New Atlanticist Mar 31, 2025

Dispatch from Hong Kong: How the ‘geoeconomic city’ is weathering global headwinds

By Josh Lipsky, Ananya Kumar

From Chinese and US economic growth to stablecoin regulations, a recent visit to Hong Kong offered important insights for two Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center experts.
China Digital Currencies
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

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

In-Depth Research

In the News Nov 15, 2024

Avoiding Entanglement: G20 Responses in a Taiwan Crisis report cited by the Wall Street Journal on how China would respond to trade restrictions from the West

Read the full article here
Brazil China
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Report Oct 22, 2024

The economic and social costs of the war in Gaza

By Perrihan Al-Riffai

After a year of war, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and neighboring countries need a permanent ceasefire. But with development gains erased, billions of dollars in infrastructure damaged, and skyrocketing unemployment, the Middle East also urgently needs a solid reconstruction plan.
Conflict Israel
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Report Oct 9, 2024

End of the line: The cost of faltering reforms

By Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center and Rhodium Group

The China Pathfinder project examines whether China’s economy is converging or diverging with the world’s leading open market economies.
China Digital Policy
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Issue Brief Sep 20, 2024

Toward a financial inclusion agenda for the global majority

By Nicole Goldin

Policymakers, investors, and innovators must advance a new financial inclusion agenda designed for the global majority.
Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Report Sep 9, 2024

Sharing the post carbon economy means building a resilient EV supply chain

By Sarah Bauerle Danzman

In this report Sarah Bauerle Danzman advances the policy discussion by compiling trade, investment, and EV industrial policy data across the G20, and offers six recommendations to the G20 to build a resilient EV supply chain.
Brazil China
Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Report Jun 7, 2024

Reconstructing Ukraine at war: The journey to prosperity starts now

By John E. Herbst, Olga Khakova, Charles Lichfield

Rebuilding the Ukrainian economy after Russia’s full-scale invasion will be a monumental task. Reconstruction can’t wait for peace and must be a well-coordinated, inclusive process.
Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

Econographics

May 23, 2025

Can the EU leverage economic pressure to broker a Gaza cease-fire?

By Lize de Kruijf

As diplomatic efforts falter, attention is turning to economic statecraft—the strategic use of trade and economic leverage to influence state behavior. The European Union (EU) and United States are Israel’s largest and second-largest trading partners, and any economic pressure they apply could have severe consequences for Israel’s economy.

Conflict Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

May 22, 2025

Gold’s geopolitical comeback: How physical and digital gold can be used to evade US sanctions

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze

The rise of gold-backed currencies that circumvent the US banking system could create a massive blind spot for US sanctions enforcement efforts.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2025

Europe is striking back at Russia’s shadow fleet. Here’s what to know about the latest EU and UK sanctions.

By Atlantic Council experts

This week, Brussels and London unveiled new sanctions against Russia and the fleet of oil tankers and other vessels covertly trading in Russian oil. Atlantic Council experts assess the moves.

Conflict Economic Sanctions
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Content

In the News

Jul 22, 2022

Lipsky interviewed by CoinDesk on countries exploring CBDCs, China’s digital renminbi, and the US falling behind on digital money

Watch the full interview here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Jul 22, 2022

Missing Key report cited in Politico Digital Future Daily newsletter on the use of zero-knowledge proofs for CBDCs

Read the full newsletter here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Jul 22, 2022

CBDC tracker cited in Business Insider on countries exploring CBDCs

Read the full article here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Jul 22, 2022

CBDC tracker cited in Forbes on countries exploring CBDCs

Read the full article here.

China Digital Currencies

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2022

Three ways the United States can prove it’s invested in its relationship with the Caribbean

By Wazim Mowla

The United States has a short window to carve out a new diplomatic and economic era in its relationship with the Caribbean Community.

Caribbean Inclusive Growth

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2022

Mario Draghi, and Italy’s political stability, are gone. What’s next for Europe?

By Atlantic Council experts

Draghi's resignation sent shockwaves through a European political establishment whose very stability he helped ensure.

Economy & Business European Union

UkraineAlert

Jul 21, 2022

Russian gas attack: Europe must not give in to Putin’s energy blackmail

By Diane Francis

The CEO of Ukrainian energy giant Naftogaz has told European leaders to prepare for a complete Russian gas cut off and warned that any concessions to the Kremlin will only serve to encourage further energy blackmail.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2022

The world isn’t ready for the looming emerging-market debt crisis

By Vasuki Shastry and Jeremy Mark

A perfect storm of economic forces threatens to swamp developing countries, and the international community—starting with the G20—isn't prepared to do much about it. 

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

China-MENA Podcast

Jul 20, 2022

China-GCC Relations

By Atlantic Council

Mohammed Al Sudairi joins us to discuss China-GCC Relations in terms of people, culture and businesses, the political view of the GCC towards China, how the US-China competition narrative is received by GCC countries, and how people from the Gulf see China.

China Economy & Business

AfricaSource

Jul 20, 2022

Nelson Mandela’s unfinished legacy

By Alexander Tripp

Mandela Day recognizes not only a great world leader, but also the value of African voices on the international stage.

Africa Human Rights
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Experts

Fellow

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

Fellow

Leremy Colf

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Digital Policy Internet

Fellow

Reem Goussous

Nonresident senior fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Americas Arabic

Fellow

Helena Fee Rasch

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Inês Bravo Figueiredo

Co-President, Volt Portugal

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Staff

Bart Piasecki

Assistant Director

GeoEconomics Center

Fiscal and Structural Reform International Financial Institutions
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Events

Public Event Tue, May 27, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson on Britain in an enduring transatlantic relationship
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Public Event Tue, June 3, 2025 • 1:00 pm ET

A conversation with Rep. French Hill on stablecoins and the future of money
Digital Currencies Financial Regulation
Public Event Wed, June 4, 2025 • 9:45 am ET

US-Central Asia Forum
Central Asia Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security
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