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 Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

New Atlanticist May 27, 2025

What’s the Trump administration’s dollar strategy? It depends on who you ask.

By Alisha Chhangani

Within the White House, there appear to be competing and fractured views of the dollar’s role. This dissonance could result in harm to the currency’s long-term dominance.
Digital Currencies Economy & Business
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

New Atlanticist Jun 6, 2025

Even as courts step in, Trump still has plenty of tariff options. US trading partners should intensify negotiations.

By Brian Janovitz

Section 301 may entail more work for the White House, but it could provide a relatively straightforward pathway to broad-based tariffs.
Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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
Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

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

Jul 8, 2025

April, July, now August: Our expert guide to Trump’s latest tariff moves

By Atlantic Council experts

“Liberation Day” was nearly ninety days ago, and now the deadline for many nations to negotiate a trade deal and avoid US tariffs is extended to next month. Atlantic Council experts explain what’s behind the moving calendar.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
Stablecoins

Fintech Frontlines

Jul 8, 2025

Stablecoins are trending, but what frictions and risks are getting overlooked?

By Ashley Lannquist

Stablecoin usage is complex for consumers, and large-scale adoption could introduce new challenges for financial stability and regulatory oversight.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 7, 2025

Building BRICS

By Bart Piasecki

Fifteen years after its founding, BRICS has evolved into a formidable counterweight to Western dominance in global economic governance. Yet despite its growing influence, the bloc’s ability to translate bold rhetoric into concrete results remains uncertain.

Brazil China
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Content

In the News

Aug 18, 2021

Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on the Afghan economy

By Josh Lipsky

Read the whole article here.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 18, 2021

Lakhani joins Egomonk to discuss the gendered funding landscape in Pakistan

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

In the News

Aug 18, 2021

Lipsky op-ed on the Taliban’s access to IMF SDRs published in Wall Street Journal

By Josh Lipsky

Read the whole article here.

Afghanistan Economic Sanctions

In the News

Aug 18, 2021

Wechsler and Lipsky in The Wall Street Journal: “Will the IMF Bankroll the Taliban?”

By Atlantic Council

"The first real test of whether the Taliban will be accepted by the international community will happen in the IMF boardroom," write Josh Lipsky and William Wechsler in the WSJ.

Afghanistan Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2021

The Taliban now controls the Afghan economy. Here’s what that means.

By Alex Zerden

The reality of a strengthened Taliban running the Afghan government creates substantial and imminent economic policy challenges for the United States and the international community.

Afghanistan Economic Sanctions

In the News

Aug 17, 2021

Friedlander interviewed by South China Morning Post about Hong Kong’s anti-sanctions law

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here.

China Economic Sanctions

In the News

Aug 17, 2021

O’Toole quoted in Marketplace about sanctions on the Taliban

By Brian O’Toole

Read the whole article here.

Afghanistan Economic Sanctions

In the News

Aug 17, 2021

O’Toole quoted in Wall Street Journal about blocking dollar transactions with the Taliban

By Brian O’Toole

Read the whole article here.

Afghanistan Economic Sanctions

Report

Aug 17, 2021

Whither the Arabs: The end of the welfare state and the start of a journey into the unknown

By Hani K. Findakly, Kevin A. Findakly

Arab countries, rich and poor, large and small, are rapidly approaching a moment of reckoning. A confluence of anachronistic governance, economic mismanagement, and disruptive technology, which has changed the dynamics of both the supply and demand for hydrocarbon fuels and raw materials, is pushing the region to a tipping point.

Economy & Business Middle East

In the News

Aug 16, 2021

Slavin quoted in Nikkei Asia on Raisi’s relations with China

By Atlantic Council

China Defense Policy
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Experts

Fellow

Sergio Guzmán

Nonresident Journalist Fellow

Global China Hub

Americas Caribbean

Fellow

Perrihan Al-Riffai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Staff

Melanie Hart

Senior Director, Global China Hub

Global China Hub

China Chinese

Staff

Alexis Harmon

Assistant Director

Global Energy Center

Geopolitics & Energy Security Renewables & Advanced Energy

Fellow

Danuta Hübner

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

Fellow

Santiago Villa

Nonresident Journalist Fellow

Global China Hub

Africa China
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Events

Public Event Thu, July 10, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on the future of US-Africa trade and security

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT with President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.  

North & West Africa Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense Trade and tariffs
Online Event Fri, July 11, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

What comes next for transatlantic trade
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Trade and tariffs
Flagship Event Tue, September 30, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual conference convening economic and financial leaders from both sides of the Atlantic.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union