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

The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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
The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

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

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

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
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Content

In the News

Dec 14, 2021

The CBDC Tracker was featured in the Axios newsletter on the global development of CBDCs

By GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here

Digital Currencies Economy & Business
golden lines of light

In the News

Dec 14, 2021

Towards a Better Internet

By Maxwell Kushnir

Some think our current Web 2.0 is flawed. Dr. George Zarkadakis, nonresident senior fellow at the Geotech Center, believes Web 2.0 is problematic and ays the intellectual groundwork for a new internet.

Digital Policy Internet

In the News

Dec 14, 2021

The CBDC Tracker was cited by CoinDesk on Ukraine’s pilot test of its central bank digital currency

By GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Transcript

Dec 14, 2021

Inside a new effort to define and promote tech transparency

By Atlantic Council

Our Digital Forensic Research Lab joined with partner organizations to launch the Action Coalition, a group organized under the Danish government's Technology for Democracy Initiative that will spend a year searching for clarity and progress on transparency in tech.

Digital Policy Disinformation

SouthAsiaSource

Dec 14, 2021

Will Afghanistan become another Somalia, Yugoslavia, or Medellin?

By Javid Ahmad

With no regional consensus on the way forward, the mixed dangers of Afghanistan morphing into another Somalia, or breaking into a loose confederacy of statelets like the former Yugoslavia, or becoming the next drug-replete Medellin is not a distant possibility.  

Afghanistan Economy & Business

Event Recap

Dec 14, 2021

Developing the EU’s industrial strategic capacity under rising geopolitical tensions

On December 14th, the EU Commission’s Representation in Sweden and the Atlantic Council’s Northern Europe Office held the event “Developing the EU’s industrial strategic capacity under growing geopolitical tensions.”  Speakers included:  Björn Fägersten, Swedish Institute of International Afairs (UI) Charlotte Andersdotter, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise Ulf Pehrsson, Ericsson Per Altenberg, Swedish National Board of Trade  […]

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Dec 13, 2021

China’s real ‘debt trap’ threat

By Jeremy Mark

Chinese debt relief could help many indebted countries—but failure to act would ensnare both foreign borrowers and Chinese lenders.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Dec 13, 2021

Ashford in Inkstick: Debating the efficacy of US sanctions on Venezuela and Ethiopia

By Atlantic Council

On December 13, Emma Ashford was featured in Inkstick’s Adults in a Room column, writing on the Biden administration’s review of sanctions policy. “The Biden administration’s recently released sanctions review was emblematic of a core problem faced by advocates of sanctions reform. To the surprise of many, the review laid out extremely clearly some of […]

Economic Sanctions English

In the News

Dec 13, 2021

Azodi quoted in The New Arab on the implication of the UAE’s top national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Tehran

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy Economic Sanctions

In the News

Dec 12, 2021

Rothschild quoted in South China Morning Post on how Covid-19 has shaped the US economy

On October 29, nonresident senior fellow Amanda Rothschild was quoted in the South China Morning Post discussing how the Covid-19 pandemic has harmed the US economy.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
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Experts

Fellow

Deng Liu

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

China East Asia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Martin-Sebastian Abel

Co-Founder & Managing Director, TransitionPlan

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Fellow

Christopher Aw

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Intelligence

Staff

Lize de Kruijf

Program Assistant, Economic Statecraft Initiative

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Dutch Economic Sanctions

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Pauline Deschryver

Senior Manager, DTEK Group

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Central Europe

Fellow

Jeppe Kofod

Distinguished Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
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Events

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
Public Event Fri, June 6, 2025 • 11:00 am ET

A deep dive into US-Guatemala economic and security cooperation
Americas Economy & Business Latin America Northern Triangle
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