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

Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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
Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

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

Testimony

Jun 9, 2025

Carole House testifies to House Financial Services Committee on the gaps and opportunities for digital asset regulation

By Carole House

On June 6, Senior Fellow Carole House testified to the House Committee on Financial Services at a hearing titled, “American Innovation and the Future of Digital Assets: From Blueprint to a Functional Framework.”

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

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

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
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Content

Issue Brief

Oct 15, 2021

Designing decentralized finance for financial inclusion

By Nikhil Raghuveera

The next iteration of DeFi must be developed toward an intentional vision for financial inclusion. Financial inclusion means that everyone has the tools to not only meet their daily needs, but to also build wealth for themselves, their families, and their communities. And in turn, greater financial inclusion supports more resilient and robust economies.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

UkraineAlert

Oct 14, 2021

Open Skies agreement will deepen Ukraine’s European integration

By Peter Dickinson

The Open Skies aviation agreement signed in Kyiv on October 12 will strengthen connectivity between Ukraine and the EU while significantly enhancing Ukraine's ongoing European integration.

Economy & Business European Union

UkraineAlert

Oct 14, 2021

Old problems threaten Ukraine’s new Bureau of Economic Security

By Victor Tregubov

Ukraine is currently in the process of reforming the country’s tax police. While there was much initial optimism earlier this year over the creation of a Bureau of Economic Security, familiar concerns are now creeping in as this new agency slowly takes shape.

Corruption Economy & Business

AfricaSource

Oct 14, 2021

For Africa to go green, the private sector must step up. Could COP26 provide an answer?

By Emilie Bel

The continent possesses an abundance of renewable-energy-production capabilities—but capitalizing on its potential remains a challenge.

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

UkraineAlert

Oct 14, 2021

Ukraine hopes industrial parks can attract international investors

By Oleksii Chernyshov

President Zelenskyy recently signed off on a series of amendments to Ukrainian legislation on industrial parks as part of an initiative to establish a network of 25 flagship industrial parks across the country.

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

Report

Oct 14, 2021

Standardizing the future: How can the United States navigate the geopolitics of international technology standards?

By Giulia Neaher, David Bray, Julian Mueller-Kaler, and Benjamin Schatz

Standards for data and technology represent a key part of the world’s digital ecosystem, and as such, they can have significant implications for geopolitics. This report, published in partnership with the American Edge Project, endeavors to study the geopolitical dynamics surrounding technology standards setting to better inform related US policy.

China Digital Policy

In the News

Oct 14, 2021

China Pathfinder report cited in Arab News about China’s potential economic growth

By The GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here. Read the report here.

China East Asia

In the News

Oct 14, 2021

Tran quoted in South China Morning Post about wavering faith in US Treasuries

By Hung Tran

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business United States and Canada

In the News

Oct 14, 2021

Mohseni-Cheraghlou quoted in Asia Times about how sanctions are impacting foreign investment in Iran

By Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

BelarusAlert

Oct 13, 2021

How sustainable is the Belarusian economy?

By Anders Åslund

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka faces mounting sanctions pressure but the Soviet-style Belarusian economy will likely prove sustainable unless the West focuses pressure on Lukashenka's Russian enablers.

Belarus Economic Sanctions
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Experts

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

Fellow

Deng Liu

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

China East Asia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Pauline Deschryver

Senior Manager, DTEK Group

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Central Europe

Staff

Lize de Kruijf

Program Assistant, Economic Statecraft Initiative

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Dutch Economic Sanctions

Fellow

Mahnaz Khan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Geopolitics & Energy Security National Security
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Events

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
Public Event Thu, June 12, 2025 • 2:30 pm ET

The cost of conflict: Launching the G7-China Economic Radar
China Economy & Business Macroeconomics
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