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.

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

Lipsky quoted in CNN Business on Russia’s energy exports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On February 25, Emma Ashford was quoted in NPR’s Marketplace on government reserves of foreign currency. “When a country’s own currency loses value, foreign currency can help with all sorts of things, including routine international trade, said Emma Ashford… “‘Large stockpiles of foreign reserves just are very useful for helping to insulate yourself from global economic shocks,’ […]

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Events

Online Event Fri, April 3, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

Building Central Asia’s future through regional integration

Central Asia Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy

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

Public Event Tue, April 7, 2026 • 1:00 pm ET

Argentina’s turning point: Accelerating economic takeoff

Argentina Economy & Business Latin America Macroeconomics

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Economy & Business

Programs

Featured Analysis

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

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

How Donald Trump remade global trade

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

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

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

In-Depth Research

How Japanese economic statecraft has shifted from promotion to protection

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

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

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

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

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

Does the Iran war signal the end of economic statecraft?

Content

Lipsky quoted in CNN Business on Russia’s energy exports

Friedlander interviewed by CNN on the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions, and gas prices in the US

Lipsky quoted in Financial Times on sanctions against Russia’s central bank

Friedlander quoted in Bloomberg on Russia responding to SWIFT cutoff

Friedlander quoted in Bloomberg on Russia’s removal from SWIFT and sanctions against Russian Central Bank

Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on Russia’s removal from SWIFT

Slavin quoted in TRT World on Iran’s response to conflict in Ukraine

Ambassador Fried interviewed by ABC News on Russia escalating conflict

O’Toole quoted in Reuters on sanctions against Russian oligarchs

Ashford in NPR’s Marketplace: Why countries stockpile foreign cash

Experts

Rza Aliyev

Hanaa Almoaibed

Wa’el Alzayat

Shahira Amin

Alen Amini

Mark Boris Andrijanič

Events

Building Central Asia’s future through regional integration

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

Argentina’s turning point: Accelerating economic takeoff

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