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

CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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
CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

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

Jul 29, 2021

CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

By The GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here. Explore the CBDC tracker here.

Digital Currencies United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Hasik in Defense and Aerospace Report Daily on the security of defense trade with allies

Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow James Hasik appears on the Defense and Aerospace Report Daily Podcast.

Defense Technologies National Security

Issue Brief

Jul 29, 2021

Xi Jinping’s politics in command economy

By Dexter Tiff Roberts

This issue brief examines the key role of Xi Jinping and the CCP in the development of a new strategy for state capitalism in modern China.

China East Asia

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Mark quoted in Wired on China’s regulation of technology companies

By Jeremy Mark

Read the whole article here.

China Economy & Business

GeoTech Cues

Jul 28, 2021

How tech can rebuild public trust in government

By Borja Prado

Public fear and mistrust in government have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially given its disproportionate impacts on poorer communities. Greater government transparency and trust-inspired communication, as well as education for the greater public good are part of the solution. We must also leverage technology for human priorities, by better enabling citizens and allowing for greater participation.

Digital Policy Political Reform

In the News

Jul 28, 2021

CBDC Tracker cited in Emerging Tech Brew

By The GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here. Explore the CBDC tracker here.

Digital Currencies United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 28, 2021

Friedlander’s House Financial Services testimony on CBDCs quoted in Quartz

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 28, 2021

Mark interviewed in the China Business Review podcast about the digital yuan

By Jeremy Mark

Listen to the podcast here.

China Digital Currencies

Issue Brief

Jul 28, 2021

The security of defense trade with allies: Enhancing contact, contracts, and control in supply chains

By James Hasik

The COVID-19 pandemic and a wave of "Buy American" policies have cast doubt on the ability of foreign suppliers to provide crucial defense goods and services to the US Department of Defense in times of crisis or conflict. Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow James Hasik recommends the expansion of security of supply agreements (among other measures) to fully leverage the defense-industrial bases of US allies and partners and best support US security priorities.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Jul 27, 2021

More backsliding in Kyiv

By Andrew D’Anieri

President Zelenskyy's exemption of infrastructure projects from standard tender procedures and oversight is a setback for reform. Yet the move has sparked necessary conversations on how to improve public procurement in Ukraine.

Corruption Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Daniel P. Erikson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Economy & Business International Organizations

Fellow

Robert Fardi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Israel

Fellow

Alyson Claire Decker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Economy & Business Space

Fellow

Afaq Hussain

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Staff

Jessie Yin

Assistant Director, GeoEconomics Center

GeoEconomics Center

China Chinese

Fellow

Beth Baltzan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs
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Events

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
Online Event Thu, July 17, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Book talk: A portrait of ‘the man who would be king’
Economy & Business Energy & Environment Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
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