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.

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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

The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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
The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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
The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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
The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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
The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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
The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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

The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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
The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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
The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

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

Russa-Economy-podcast-epiosde-4

Podcast

Mar 10, 2026

What’s the state of Russia’s economy?

By the GeoEconomics Center

From sanctions to shadow fleets, we discuss evasion tactics and how Russia could benefit from an extended conflict in the Middle East that boosts oil prices.

Economy & Business Russia

Econographics

Mar 10, 2026

The renminbi is winning over Africa—but can it rival the dollar?

By Lize de Kruijf

In recent years, African governments have taken steps to reduce reliance on the dollar, but progress on their regional payment system has been slow—and in the meantime, China’s renminbi is quietly making inroads across Africa’s trade and finance networks.

Africa China

Econographics

Mar 9, 2026

Middle powers are rewriting the playbook for gender‑equal growth

By Nicole Goldin

Middle powers are advancing gender-equal growth by pairing domestic economic reforms with coalition leadership in global institutions.

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth
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Content

Event Recap

Apr 9, 2012

The Austere Life: The Changing Nature of Europe’s Politics and Societies

By Jason Harmala

On April 9, the Global Business & Economics Program hosted a conference call with Kostas Bakoyannis and Alexis Papahelas to discuss the Greek political system and daily life under the country’s heavy austerity measures.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

NATOSource

Apr 2, 2012

Why Europe Still Matters

By Alberto R. Coll, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs:  Over the past decade it has become fashionable to write off Europe and downgrade its importance to American interests.

Economy & Business United States and Canada

NATOSource

Mar 30, 2012

Spain to cut government ministries by 17%, Foreign Ministry by 54%

By Al Goodman, CNN

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Mar 28, 2012

Draghi Rides to the Rescue

By Ben Carliner

Give Mario Draghi his due: he knows how to stop a bank run. Since the European Central Bank launched its Long Term Refinancing Operation for Eurozone banks, contagion has all but stopped in its tracks.

Economy & Business European Union

Europe After The Vote

Mar 27, 2012

Greece: An Effective Model for Europe’s Next Wave of Debt Restructuring?

By Jason Harmala

On March 27, the Global Business and Economics Program hosted a conference call with sovereign debt experts Anna Gelpern and Mitu Gulati to discuss Greece’s private debt restructuring and the possibility of other indebted Eurozone countries following in Athens’ footsteps. Anna Gelpern is a professor of law at Georgetown and American Universities, and Mitu Gulati is a professor of law at Duke University. Their analysis of what we have learned from the Greek experience, and what we should expect going forward, provided the following takeaways.

Economy & Business European Union

NATOSource

Mar 14, 2012

Obameron Versus Merkozy

By Julian Lindley-French, the New Atlanticist

From Julian Lindley-French, the New Atlanticist:  Officially Obameron will consider the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, and of course the joint position the US and UK will likely adopt at May’s NATO Chicago Summit.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2012

Europe Must Find the Political Will to Stabilize its Economy

By Timothy Stafford

Europe’s economy needs swift and concerted attention. For months, increasing fears about the possibility of sovereign defaults have engulfed the continent and contaminated its economies. Only by addressing the fundamental design flaws within the Euro can any prospect of sustained prosperity be restored.

Economy & Business European Union

NATOSource

Mar 9, 2012

Obama to take UK Prime Minister to NCAA tournament game

By Ken Thomas, the AP

From Ken Thomas, the AP:  Talk about getting the royal treatment: President Barack Obama, an avid basketball fan, is bringing British Prime Minister David Cameron to an NCAA Tournament game in Ohio

Economy & Business United Kingdom

Report

Mar 6, 2012

The Finance Crisis: Lessons Learned from Canada and the Way Forward

By Atlantic Council

On November 16, 2011 the Atlantic Council, Thomson Reuters, the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and the Embassy of Canada hosted a day-long conference to look at the actions and tools Canada used to so successfully weather the financial crisis. Entitled The Finance Crisis: Lessons Learned from Canada and the Way […]

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

NATOSource

Mar 5, 2012

Germans concerned they have become “the Americans of Europe”

By Jan Fleischhauer, Spiegel

From Jan Fleischhauer, Spiegel:  It won’t be long before they start burning German flags.

Economy & Business United States and Canada
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Experts

Advisory Council member

Sheffy Kolade

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Entrepreneurship

Millennium fellow

Ala’a Kolkaila

Belfer Center Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, Sloan Fellow - MBA'25, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Middle East

Fellow

Konstantinos Komaitis

Resident Senior Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Africa China

Fellow

Ville Korpela

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Digital Currencies Europe & Eurasia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Kipkorir Koskei

2025 European Leadership Accelerator participant

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Energy Markets & Governance

Millennium fellow

Mayowa Kuyoro

Partner, McKinsey & Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business General Africa
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Events

Public Event Thu, March 12, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Resilience in Security and Economics Dialogue
Central Europe Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Fri, March 13, 2026 • 10:30 am ET

Ukraine’s human capital and the foundations of recovery and long-term security
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Resilience & Society Russia
Public Event Mon, March 23, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Kurt Campbell on what to expect from Trump’s Beijing visit
China Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy Technology & Innovation
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