Economy & Business

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

Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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
Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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
Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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
Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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
Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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
Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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

Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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
Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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
Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

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

Podcast

May 1, 2026

The IEA’s Fatih Birol on ‘the greatest energy security threat in history’

By The Atlantic Council

The war in Iran continues with no clear end in sight, fueling economic turbulence and concerns of a global energy crisis. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol spoke at an AC Front Page event on April 13th, and argued the conflict is the greatest energy security threat in history. He warned that oil prices will soon “converge” with the on-the-ground reality, knocking the global economy further into disarray.

Economy & Business European Union

Econographics

Apr 29, 2026

What swap, Gulf?

By Charles Lichfield and Maxamillian Rajaobelina-Phipps

Amidst the chaos of the conflict in the Middle East, there’s been a buzz around offering dollar currency swaps to allies. Those have traditionally been the territory of central banks, but this time around, Treasury is taking the lead.

Economy & Business

Econographics

Apr 22, 2026

In renegotiating the USMCA, Mexico should neither rush nor stall

By Phil Lovegren, Ernesto Stein

With the USMCA under review, Mexico faces a delicate balance: rushing risks economic harm, but delay brings uncertainty—making patience a viable fallback strategy.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation
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Content

Event Recap

May 1, 2009

Josef Ackermann on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis

Deutsche Bank CEO Dr. Josef Ackermann visited the Atlantic Council for a frank discussion about the global economic crisis.

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2009

Pirates Convicted in Stockholm. Music Pirates.

By James Joyner

While the world’s attention has been captured by old-style pirates off the coast of Africa, a Swedish judge yesterday issued a landmark ruling against the other kind of pirates. 

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2009

Fiat CEO: Cut Wages or No Chrysler Deal

By James Joyner

The Obama administration’s attempt to shepherd a shotgun marriage between Chrysler and Fiat appears to be in serious trouble. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is demanding major concessions from labor unions before agreeing to any deal — and is offering next to nothing in return.

Economy & Business United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2009

After G-20: Not Quite A New World Order…Yet

By Robert Manning

Now that the dust has settled from the London G20 meeting earlier this month, what did it add up to? The media was not kind to British PM Gordon Brown’s boast that, “I think the New World Order is emerging.”

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 7, 2009

Saving Europe’s Market Economy

By Mario Monti

If the world economy is in crisis, the market economy is even more in crisis. It is seen as unfair, having generated unacceptable inequalities; and inefficient, having attracted massive resources into financial activities whose contribution to the economy is questioned. Yet the world needs an integrated market economy, a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 3, 2009

G20 Protests in Multimedia

By Valerie Nichols

The G20 summit was marked by protests of all shapes and sizes, from marches to effigies to giant games of Monopoly in the streets.  Here is a roundup of some of these activities.

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2009

G20 Solves Financial Crisis and More!

By James Joyner

Tufts University political economist Dan Drezner passes on news of what he terms “The Miracle of London.” Your humble blogger has learned that, in an amazing reversal of fortune, the leaders of the G-20 have heeded President Obama’s call to embrace a “responsiblity to co-ordinate our action and find our common ground.” 

Economy & Business International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2009

G20 Expectations: The View from Europe

By Valerie Nichols

European expectations about the upcoming G20 summit are rapidly on the decline.  Although most European nations began preparations with a relatively rosy outlook, many are now warning against an all-encompassing economic agreement coming out of the summit.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2009

Brown Global Stimulus Plea Falls on Deaf Ears

By James Joyner

Gordon Brown’s call for a “global new deal,” in which the G20 leaders would provide more than $2 trillion in stimulus to fight the global recession, is finding no takers in Europe.  

Economy & Business United Kingdom

Report

Mar 28, 2009

G20 Report: Stimulus and Regulation Compromise Needed

By Paola Subacchi, Alexei Monsarrat, and Robin Niblett

What started last year as a growing international credit crunch and, by September, a global banking crisis has now spread into the real economy. International trade, investment and economic growth are all contracting. A drastic curtailment of credit, collapsing global demand and a loss of trade finance is having a devastating economic effect on both […]

Americas Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Mahnaz Khan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Geopolitics & Energy Security National Security

Millennium fellow

Winnie Khattar

Head of ETF Market Structure, iShares, APAC, BlackRock

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

Fellow

Deneyse A. Kirkpatrick

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Civil Society

Fellow

Paul Klimos

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Entrepreneurship G20

Fellow

Tom Koch

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Conflict

Fellow

Erica Kochi

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Americas Digital Policy
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Events

Public Event Tue, May 12, 2026 • 9:15 am ET

Lloyd’s chair on managing risk in an era of geopolitical tension

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—Sir Charles Roxburgh, chair of Lloyd's, discusses how the global insurance marketplace mitigates risk at a fraught geopolitical moment.
Economy & Business Macroeconomics
Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union