Economy & Business

The US must lead with allies or risk becoming a bystander in a reshaped international financial system. As the global economy struggles to recover from COVID-19 and rising powers like China assert economic influence, this mission is critical to the long-term prosperity of the United States and its allies. Strong collaboration between the public and private sectors can help revitalize open markets for the twenty-first century.

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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

Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

New Atlanticist Aug 11, 2025

The US-EU trade agreement is not set in stone. This presents pitfalls and opportunities.

By Charles Lichfield

The trade and tariff deal recently struck in Scotland has several important elements that are yet to be determined.
Economy & Business European Union
Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

New Atlanticist Aug 4, 2025

Trump’s review of US membership in the IMF offers a rare chance for reform

By Martin Mühleisen

The institution needs its major shareholders aligned to tackle new challenges, and it deserves a management team qualified to lead it on this new path.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

New Atlanticist Aug 1, 2025

How Donald Trump remade global trade

By Josh Lipsky

The US president has smashed the system, but the speed and scale of the smashing owes to a system that had been growing increasingly brittle for years. 
Economy & Business Macroeconomics
Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

Econographics Jul 31, 2025

Beijing extends and pretends to deal with its mountain of local government debt

By Jeremy Mark

Beijing’s three-year local debt restructuring plan fails to actually address the trillions of dollars weighing on local governments and will only cause greater problems down the road.
China Economy & Business
Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

Econographics Aug 22, 2025

Trump’s challenges to the Fed’s independence loom over Jackson Hole Symposium

By Alisha Chhangani

As Trump tests the limits of what he can do, the credibility of the Fed—and by extension, global financial stability—is increasingly at risk.
Economy & Business Macroeconomics
Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

New Atlanticist Jul 17, 2025

What Ancient Greece can teach the United States about defending against cyber attacks

By Carole House

Applying lessons from the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC to present-day cyber warfare is surprisingly instructive.
Cybersecurity Iran

In-Depth Research

Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

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 Economy & Business
Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

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
Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

Issue Brief Mar 3, 2025

Financing the future: Unlocking private capital for global infrastructure and climate goals

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Nisha Narayanan, Hung Tran

MDBs and international financial institutions alone cannot bridge the climate and development financing gaps.
Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

Econographics

Mar 27, 2026

The Iran war’s economic fallout won’t stop at oil—agriculture and aluminum are next

By Eduardo Gomez Horta and Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The Iran war’s impact isn’t limited to oil. Fertilizer shortages now threaten spring corn planting, while aluminum markets are strained—signaling broader disruptions to food prices, industry, and global supply chains.

Economy & Business

Econographics

Mar 20, 2026

In the Iran crisis, the IMF’s voice is urgently needed

By Martin Mühleisen

As the Iran crisis chokes the Strait of Hormuz and rattles global energy markets, the IMF has offered little more than cautious statements. The institution must develop real-time, scenario-driven analysis.

Economy & Business Iran
Man-standing-next-to-airplane-on-carrier

Podcast

Mar 18, 2026

Does the Iran war signal the end of economic statecraft?

By the GeoEconomics Center

From tariffs to sanctions, the Trump administration relied heavily on the geoeconomic toolkit in 2025. With the war in Iran and capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, has President Donald Trump lost his patience with these tools?

Economy & Business Iran
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Content

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited by Reuters on Biden’s executive order

Read the full article here.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Amb. Fried quoted in Politico’s West Wing Playbook newsletter regarding Ambassador Brzezinksi

Read the newsletter here

Crisis Management Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2022

What’s left to sanction in Russia? Wallets, stocks, and foreign investments.

By Brian O’Toole, Daniel Fried

There are still some tools left for the West to escalate sanctions against Russia in response to its aggression against Ukraine—including an Iran-style approach.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

O’Toole quoted in Financial Times on impact of sanctions on banking in Russia

Read the full article here

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

O’Toole quoted in Christian Science Monitor on sanctions against Russia

Read the full article here

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Our CBDC tracker cited in EuroNews on the Executive Order on cryptocurrencies

Read the full article here

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

CBDC tracker cited in Reuters

Read the full article here

China Digital Currencies

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2022

Biden’s Russian oil ban: Slick, or nothing special?

By Randolph Bell, Reed Blakemore, and Charles Lichfield

Our experts break down the new US move against Russia's energy industry, from its impact on global oil prices to the pressure it puts in Europe.

Energy & Environment European Union

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Ashford on Channel 4’s Fourcast: Is this the end of the post-Cold War era?

By Atlantic Council

On March 9, Emma Ashford featured on Channel 4’s Fourcast podcast to discuss the geopolitical ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “During the Cold War, we found ways to mitigate some of the worst risks of that situation. We need to figure out how to replicate those things going forward if we want this to […]

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Ashford in Fox News: Former US ambassador to NATO: Putin has ‘put himself on a plank’

By Atlantic Council

On March 9, Emma Ashford was quoted by Fox News in an article responding to her appearance on Intelligence Squared. “Volker and Ashford argued broadly about the United States’ stance defending Ukraine, Ukraine’s place in or outside NATO, the benefits or downsides of sanctions against Russia, and more over the course of the podcast episode.” […]

Conflict Crisis Management
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Sharif Abdelrazeq

Sustainability and Innovation Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Middle East

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Martin-Sebastian Abel

Co-Founder & Managing Director, TransitionPlan

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

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

Arabic China

Fellow

Gbemisola Abudu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

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
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Events

Public Event Tue, April 7, 2026 • 11:30 am ET

Ajay Banga on the World Bank Group’s jobs agenda and global development

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group, discusses the World Bank Group’s role in supporting job creation and economic development in a fast-changing global economy.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
Flagship Event Tue, April 7, 2026 • 1:00 pm ET

Argentina’s turning point: Accelerating economic takeoff
Argentina Economy & Business Latin America Macroeconomics
Online Event Wed, April 8, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

IMEC during a time of war
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia India Middle East
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