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

Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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 Regulation
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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
Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

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

EconoGraphics

Apr 30, 2025

US-EU sanctions divergence would spell trouble for multinational companies

By Jesse Sucher

The fracturing of traditional alliances carries significant consequences for companies facing multijurisdictional compliance obligations, meaning an already complex situation will become more chaotic.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2025

Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman on how technology can be used to tackle financial crime

By John Cookson

Artificial intelligence and other new technologies are needed to address the problem of illicit funds in the global financial system, Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman told the Atlantic Council on April 25.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

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 Regulation
Read More from the GeoEconomics center

Content

AfricaSource

Oct 16, 2020

Financing African trade and development: An interview with TDB Group President & CEO Admassu Tadesse

By Africa Center

The Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) has been financing trade and development projects and promoting economic integration and prosperity in the region since 1985. Watch an interview below between Mr. Admassu Tadesse, president and chief executive officer of TDB Group and Ms. Aubrey Hruby, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. Mr. Tadesse covers what makes TDB unique and different, the role African development finance institutions (DFIs) play in returning the African continent to economic growth post-COVID, how TDB can interface with US investors, and ways DFIs can be catalytic in increasing capital flows to African markets.

Africa Economy & Business

AfricaSource

Oct 16, 2020

Reducing Africa’s infrastructure deficit: An interview with AFC President & CEO Samaila Zubairu

By Africa Center

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a pan-African development finance institution, has been developing and financing infrastructure, natural resources, and industrial assets to increase economic prosperity and growth across the continent since 2007. Watch Samaila Zubairu, president and chief executive officer of the Africa Finance Corporation, join Senior Fellow Aubrey Hruby for an interview to discuss AFC’s investment philosophy, innovation, and future growth, along with the critical role of African development finance institutions in improving economic prosperity.

Africa Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Oct 16, 2020

The world in debt

By Stefan de Villiers

On Tuesday, the IMF released a new World Economic Outlook report for October 2020. In the report, alongside adjusted growth expectations, were updated measures of government debt. From that data, the GeoEconomics Center has created a visualization to track the debt burden felt across the globe. Our new tracker focuses on general government gross debt […]

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2020

The US government makes its big push for investment in Africa

By David A. Wemer

Buoyed by bipartisan commitment and a new government agency, the United States has taken new and significant steps to help drive investment in Africa, strengthen the region’s dynamic economies, create lucrative opportunities for US and African businesses, and advance US foreign-policy goals in the region.

Africa Future of Work

In the News

Oct 16, 2020

Hruby quoted in the Africa Report on Stripe’s acquisition of Nigerian fintech firm Paystack

By Atlantic Council

Africa Economy & Business

Investing in Africa's Future Conference

Oct 16, 2020

Transcript: Investing in Africa’s future, a conversation with African presidents

By Atlantic Council

Immediate recovery and sustained growth in Africa after the pandemic rely in part on increased cooperation between US and African development finance institutions and a concomitant boost in two-way trade and investment. African leaders share their insights about their work with the US International Development Finance Corporation and how it will impact their countries.

Africa Economy & Business

In-Depth Research & Reports

Oct 15, 2020

Revitalizing the WTO

By Clete R. Willems

WTO reform is especially important now since it would provide an efficient way to tackle China’s unfair trade practices head-on. This paper proposes concurrent measures that the United States and European Union can take to revitalize the WTO.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

AfricaSource

Oct 15, 2020

An interview with US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy

By Africa Center

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Tibor Nagy, joins Atlantic Council Africa Center Director of Programs and Studies Ms. Bronwyn Bruton to discuss bipartisan support for increased US trade and investment in African countries.

Africa Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2020

Regional development banks play a critical role in COVID-19 response and recovery

By Nicole Goldin

As the pandemic calls into question the effectiveness of the global order and systems of economic and financial governance, the pivotal role of RDBs in improving billions of lives, bolstering markets, and strengthening economies should not be overlooked

Future of Work Inclusive Growth

In the News

Oct 15, 2020

Hruby quoted in the Street Journal on Stripe’s acquisition of Nigerian fintech firm Paystack

By Atlantic Council

Africa Economy & Business
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Experts

Advisory Council member

Tatiana Ellis

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business South & Central Africa

Advisory Council member

Tayte French Lutz

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business International Markets

Fellow

Colin Coleman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Tao Tan

Senior Managing Director

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

Millennium fellow

Stephen Kalin

Foreign Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal

Millennium Leadership Program

Eastern Europe Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Matthew Zubrow

Vice President, Hepco Capital Management

Millennium Leadership Program

Americas Economy & Business
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Events

Public Event Wed, May 7, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Taking stock: Bilateral ties after 100 days of the Trump administration
Economy & Business International Markets Latin America Mexico
Online Event Tue, May 13, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Rethinking US policy options in Afghanistan
Afghanistan Economy & Business Human Rights 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