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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.

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Featured Analysis

Surrounded by superpowers, Kazakhstan walks a geopolitical tightrope

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. As global leaders gathered in Washington, DC, unease loomed large—fueled by ambiguous signals from the U.S., growing divergence among major economies, and a sobering downward revision of global growth forecasts. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivered a candid diagnosis of global risks while advocating for urgent trade, fiscal, and structural reforms. Meanwhile, a high-profile intervention by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reignited debates over the IMF’s evolving mandate, highlighting a deeper ideological contest over the role of international financial institutions in a fracturing world order.

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

Content

Freedom and Prosperity Around the World

Feb 5, 2025

Surrounded by superpowers, Kazakhstan walks a geopolitical tightrope

By Nargis Kassenova

Still a relatively young nation, Kazakhstan finds itself at critical juncture amid a series of domestic and geopolitical shocks. Its future depends on the success of economic liberalization efforts—and a delicate balancing act: The country must strengthen ties with the West and simultaneously manage its relations with powerful neighbors like Russia and China.

Central Asia Elections

UkraineAlert

Feb 4, 2025

Russia’s war against the West will continue until Putin tastes defeat

By Andriy Zagorodnyuk

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is part of a far larger war against the West. If he succeeds in Ukraine, Putin aims to destroy the existing rules-based world order and usher in a new era dominated by a handful of great powers, writes Andriy Zagorodnyuk.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

Fast Thinking

Feb 4, 2025

Where do the Trump tariffs go from here?

By Atlantic Council

US tariffs on China went into effect today, while President Donald Trump paused levies on Mexico and Canada. Our experts explain who and what could be next.

China Economy & Business

GeoTech Cues

Feb 4, 2025

Did DeepSeek just trigger a paradigm shift?

By Ryan Arant, Newton Howard

The release of DeepSeek's AI model may have far-reaching implications for global investment trends, regulatory strategies, and the broader AI industry.

Artificial Intelligence Digital Policy

Freedom and Prosperity Around the World

Feb 4, 2025

Demographic shifts in Spain call for reinvigorated reforms

By Toni Roldán Monés

While Spain continues to perform well in the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes, sustaining this performance will involve overhauling the education system, pursuing political reforms to enhance institutional strength, and preserving fiscal sustainability amidst changing demographics.

Economy & Business Education

In the News

Feb 4, 2025

Lipsky quoted by AP News on the US’ limited gains from the tariffs on Canada and Mexico and consequent pause agreements

Read the full article here

Economy & Business International Markets

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2025

Fearmongering from Western Balkan leaders is no longer working on their citizens—or the EU

By Agon Maliqi

The European Union has ample leverage to press its concerns on reforms, Russia policy, and regional stability to Western Balkan countries.

European Union Eurozone

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2025

What Ecuador’s election will mean for the region’s fight against organized crime

By Isabel Chiriboga

The winner of Ecuador’s presidential election will need to adopt a new approach to confronting the country’s security and economic challenges.

Economy & Business Latin America

MENASource

Feb 3, 2025

If the MENA region wants to unlock its youth potential, it should look to sports

By Hezha Barzani

As a golden era of sports takes shape in the Middle East and North Africa, the region has a unique opportunity to seize on this positive momentum to set up the young generation for success through sports.

Economy & Business Middle East

In the News

Feb 3, 2025

Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the risks associated with overusing economic threats

East Asia Economy & Business

Events

Online Event Tue, May 13, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

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Programs

Featured Analysis

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

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

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

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

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

Russia Sanctions Database: November 2024

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

Multilateralism under pressure: Takeaways from the 2025 IMF Spring Meetings

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

US-EU sanctions divergence would spell trouble for multinational companies

Content

Surrounded by superpowers, Kazakhstan walks a geopolitical tightrope

Russia’s war against the West will continue until Putin tastes defeat

Where do the Trump tariffs go from here?

Did DeepSeek just trigger a paradigm shift?

Demographic shifts in Spain call for reinvigorated reforms

Lipsky quoted by AP News on the US’ limited gains from the tariffs on Canada and Mexico and consequent pause agreements

Fearmongering from Western Balkan leaders is no longer working on their citizens—or the EU

What Ecuador’s election will mean for the region’s fight against organized crime

If the MENA region wants to unlock its youth potential, it should look to sports

Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the risks associated with overusing economic threats

Experts

Matt Rhodes

Kurt Davis

Kate Dunbar

Jeanette Quick

Jasneet Hora

Gabriela Santos

Events

Rethinking US policy options in Afghanistan

Critical minerals and the pathways to prosperity, peace, and security in the DRC

2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

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