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

Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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 Crimes & Illicit Trade
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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
Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

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

New Atlanticist

Jun 3, 2025

For dollar-backed stablecoins to be truly stable, the US needs to set international standards

By Josh Lipsky

The current patchwork of regulations around the globe creates more confusion, more friction in payments, and ultimately higher costs for consumers.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

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

Jun 2, 2025

A tax on remittances could hurt US households—and national security

By Ananya Kumar

US policymakers should both protect and promote legal remittance channels to ensure that these funds can flow safely and efficiently.

Civil Society Economy & Business
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Content

In the News

Feb 16, 2022

Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

SouthAsiaSource

Feb 16, 2022

Experts react: Biden administration decision to split frozen Afghan funds

By Atlantic Council Experts

On February 11, 2022, US President Joe Biden issued an executive order paving the way for the splitting of $7 billion in frozen funds controlled by the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. This move has caused significant controversy.

Afghanistan Economy & Business
Financing & Genocide: Development Finance and the Crisis in the Uyghur Region

Report

Feb 16, 2022

Financing & genocide: Development finance and the crisis in the Uyghur Region

By Laura T. Murphy, Kendyl Salcito, Nyrola Elimä

A joint report that reveals how the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has significant investments in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where indigenous peoples have been subjected to what international legislators, legal scholars, and advocates have determined to be a genocide.

China International Financial Institutions

UkraineAlert

Feb 16, 2022

Putin has seriously wounded Ukraine’s economy without firing a single shot

By Anders Åslund

Even without physically invading Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is already causing the country great economic losses. The West cannot stand by and watch this happen, explains Anders Åslund.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

In the News

Feb 15, 2022

Mu Changchun’s remarks from the UCSD-GeoEconomics Center conference on CBDCs in the Asia Pacific featured in Reuters

Read the full article here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Feb 15, 2022

Georgieva’s remarks from the IMF-GeoEconomics Center event featured in CNBC India

Read the full article here.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Feb 15, 2022

On Afghanistan’s $7B question, Biden gets it right

By Brian O’Toole

The administration has been playing kabuki to ensure at least some cash makes it to the Afghan people.

Afghanistan Democratic Transitions

In-Depth Research & Reports

Feb 15, 2022

Realizing the promise and potential of “Web3” for Pakistan

By Uzair Younus

This paper is an initial attempt to frame debate about the Web3 ecosystem in Pakistan – which is a $100+ billion opportunity – and make recommendations on how policymakers should approach regulating this sector.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

In the News

Feb 15, 2022

Kadhim quoted in Al-Monitor on Iraq-Iran relations and sectarian parties in Iraq’s government

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

AC Selects

Feb 15, 2022

AC Selects: China’s digital currency development and relations with Russia

Week of February 11, 2022 This week, the Global China Hub hosted an #ACFrontPage conversation with Former Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd and Former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States to discuss the strategic implications of a new era of China-Russia relations. Meanwhile, the GeoEconomics Center hosted an event to […]

China Conflict
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Experts

Fellow

Edward Verona

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Sharif Abdelrazeq

Sustainability and Innovation Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Middle East

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic China

Fellow

Grace Abuhamad

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy Internet

Millennium fellow

Ramzi Abunemreh

Architectural Manager, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Asia Economy & Business

Fellow

Didier Acouetey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business
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Events

Online Event Tue, June 10, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Marine energy: Harnessing the power of the Atlantic
Africa Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance Renewables & Advanced Energy
Online Event Thu, June 12, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Why the UN’s Internet Governance Forum still matters twenty years on
Digital Policy Internet Internet of Things Technology & Innovation
Public Event Thu, June 12, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Beyond critical minerals: Capitalizing on the DRC’s vast opportunities
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Economy & Business Energy & Environment
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