Economy & Business

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

CBDC tracker cited in Reuters on countries exploring CBDCs in light of advancements to Taiwan’s pilot program

Econographics Jun 6, 2025

The search for safe assets

By Hung Tran

The deterioration of the US fiscal outlook has put international investors, especially foreign central banks, in a quandary. There is no good alternative to US Treasuries as safe reserve assets.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Econographics May 29, 2025

After partial relief, what’s next for Syria sanctions?

By Alex Zerden

Syria remains a high-risk jurisdiction due to years of conflict, endemic corruption, state institution collapse, narcotrafficking of captagon, insufficient anti-money laundering efforts, and inadequate financing of terrorism controls.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Sinographs Jun 2, 2025

Hong Kong highlights China’s policy of decoupling from US financial markets

By Jeremy Mark

The political benefits of an international financial center with Chinese characteristics will outweigh the pain that decoupling inflicts on China’s private sector.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist May 27, 2025

What’s the Trump administration’s dollar strategy? It depends on who you ask.

By Alisha Chhangani

Within the White House, there appear to be competing and fractured views of the dollar’s role. This dissonance could result in harm to the currency’s long-term dominance.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Issue Brief Jun 6, 2025

How Japanese economic statecraft has shifted from promotion to protection

By Charles Lichfield

Japan is in a geopolitically challenging neighborhood and is witnessing the basic tenets of its foreign policy—from alignment with the United States to fostering a rules-based environment—come under unprecedented stress.

East Asia Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist Jun 6, 2025

Even as courts step in, Trump still has plenty of tariff options. US trading partners should intensify negotiations.

By Brian Janovitz

Section 301 may entail more work for the White House, but it could provide a relatively straightforward pathway to broad-based tariffs.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2025

Four questions (and expert answers) on the new US cryptocurrency legislation

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts pull back the curtain on three new pieces of legislation on digital currencies, covering everything from stablecoins to CBDCs.

Digital Currencies 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

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jun 29, 2022

Trouble for Emerging Markets could spell trouble for all

By Jeff Goldstein

With emerging markets in a difficult position, they should be encouraged to use capital controls in some circumstances, develop more effective debt resolution programs, and acquire funds from advanced economies and international financial institutions.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

UkraineAlert

Jun 28, 2022

Fear of confronting Putin will lead to Russian victory in Ukraine

By Richard D. Hooker, Jr.

So far, the war in Ukraine has taught Vladimir Putin that NATO and the EU will go to great lengths to avoid confronting him. This has grave consequences for Ukraine itself and for the wider international community.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Jun 27, 2022

Can price caps on Russian oil tame the Kremlin? Our experts debate.

By Edward Fishman, Brian O’Toole, Mark Mozur, and Charles Lichfield

Atlantic Council experts weigh in on whether a G7-driven price cap on Russian oil will have the intended effect.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

BelarusAlert

Jun 27, 2022

Belarus caught up in Putin’s plotting on Ukrainian and Lithuanian fronts

By Alesia Rudnik

As Russian rhetoric toward Lithuania heats up, Belarusians once more find themselves caught up in the Kremlin’s aggressive foreign policy thanks to Belarus dictator Lukashenka's dependence on Moscow.

Belarus Conflict

SouthAsiaSource

Jun 27, 2022

COVID-19 and tourism in the Himalayan & Indian Ocean countries of South Asia

By South Asia Center

While in 2019 tourism was among the fastest growing sectors in South Asia, the pandemic resulted in billions of dollars in losses across the region. To understand these developments, the South Asia Center brought together a panel of experts to discuss COVID-19 and the future of tourism in the Himalayan and Indian Ocean Countries of South Asia.

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus

Experts

Advisory Council member

Felipe Larraín B.

Former Minister of Finance, Chile

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

Fellow

Fernando Larraín

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Americas Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Ivy Lau-Schindewolf

International Policy and Partnerships, OpenAI

Millennium Leadership Program

China Digital Policy

Staff

Nicole Lawler

Assistant Director

Europe Center

Digital Policy Economy & Business

Staff

Charles Lichfield

Deputy Director and C. Boyden Gray Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Fellow

Frannie Léautier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Events

Public Event Thu, July 24, 2025 • 8:45 am ET

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Programs

Featured Analysis

The search for safe assets

After partial relief, what’s next for Syria sanctions?

Hong Kong highlights China’s policy of decoupling from US financial markets

What’s the Trump administration’s dollar strategy? It depends on who you ask.

How Japanese economic statecraft has shifted from promotion to protection

Even as courts step in, Trump still has plenty of tariff options. US trading partners should intensify negotiations.

In-Depth Research

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

The economic and social costs of the war in Gaza

End of the line: The cost of faltering reforms

Toward a financial inclusion agenda for the global majority

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

Reconstructing Ukraine at war: The journey to prosperity starts now

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

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

Four questions (and expert answers) on the new US cryptocurrency legislation

Charting a strategic path for Syria’s postwar reconstruction

Content

CBDC tracker cited in Reuters on countries exploring CBDCs in light of advancements to Taiwan’s pilot program

Graham cited in International Banker on the lack of incentives in the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

Lipsky cited in the Wall Street Journal on G7 leaders’ discussions of shared economic problems

Lipsky cited in Associated Press on the low likelihood of G7 summit coordination to successfully address inflation

Lipsky cited in NBC News on G7 leaders’ discussions of alternative oil sources

Trouble for Emerging Markets could spell trouble for all

Fear of confronting Putin will lead to Russian victory in Ukraine

Can price caps on Russian oil tame the Kremlin? Our experts debate.

Belarus caught up in Putin’s plotting on Ukrainian and Lithuanian fronts

COVID-19 and tourism in the Himalayan & Indian Ocean countries of South Asia

Experts

Felipe Larraín B.

Fernando Larraín

Ivy Lau-Schindewolf

Nicole Lawler

Charles Lichfield

Frannie Léautier

Events

Germany’s digital minister on Europe’s digital competitiveness

Strengthening the resilience of the Caribbean services sector

One year later: Venezuela’s presidential election and the road ahead

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