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our pillars of work

Future of capitalism

The center believes that international cooperation and free markets provide the best architecture to enable prosperity but it is time to revitalize capitalism in the 21st Century. This involves reimagining global governance, promoting inclusive growth, and charting China’s economic trajectory.

Future of money

The center develops in-depth writing and convenes on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies. We seek to accelerate US action on creating new technical and regulatory standards on digital assets to ensure the continued strength of the dollar, pound, and euro.

Economic statecraft

Our Economic Statecraft Initiative sheds light on the most impactful and sometimes controversial tools of American power – sanctions, export controls, investment screening and trade. Leveraging deep government experience and proprietary data, we produce widely read analysis and expert briefings.

FEATURED RESEARCH

In recent months, growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait as well as the rapid and coordinated G7 economic response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have raised questions—in G7 capitals and in Beijing alike—over whether similar measures could be imposed on China in a Taiwan crisis.

Read the Report

Stay updated

Projects and Trackers

Central Bank Digital Currency Tracker

The interactive database — featuring more than 100 countries — takes you inside the rapid evolution of money all over the world.

China Pathfinder Project

This multi-year project analyzes China and other open market economies across six key areas and presents an objective picture of China relative to the world.

Bretton Woods 2.0 Project

Bretton Woods 2.0 project aims to create a blueprint for reform of the IMF, World Bank, and World Trade Organization to help foster inclusive growth around the world.

Global Sanctions Dashboard

This unique tracker leverages proprietary data to explain sanctions implementation using advanced visualizations and informs economic statecraft policy.

Monetary Policy Hub

Real-time tracking of the movements in monetary policy across thirty of the world’s largest central banks.

Cryptocurrency Regulation Tracker

Cryptocurrencies may significantly alter financial structures and transform the next generation of money and payments. What does regulation look like?

Global Economic Events Calendar

The Global Economic Events Calendar tracks key central bank meetings, major data releases, and significant international economic and political events. Click on the different central bank meetings to see real-time data on that country’s economy.

Flagship convenings

A special address by US Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen

The US secretary of the treasury joined the Atlantic Council ahead of the spring meetings at the IMF and World Bank to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the economic fallout for the developing world.

Frankfurt Forum on US-European GeoEconomics

The Frankfurt Forum launches new research and brings together senior policymakers from both sides of the Atlantic. This special event will deliver a blueprint for US-EU cooperation in four key areas: digital currencies, monetary policy, international trade, and economic statecraft.

Econographics

A visualization series

Econographics

Econographics is the GeoEconomics Center’s in-depth look at key trends in the global economy utilizing state-of-the-art data visualization tools.

Explore more Econographics
GeoEconomics Center

Econographics Jul 12, 2023

Progress on debt restructuring provides a glimmer of hope for developing countries

As government and private-sector creditors finally take steps to restructure debt, questions remain over their readiness to meaningfully reduce debt burdens.

Read More
GeoEconomics Center

Econographics Jun 27, 2023

Lessons from the Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact

By Hung Tran

Dressing up concrete measures as parts of a “new global financial architecture” risks conflating them with the geopolitical conflict about the future of the current world order.
China Economy & Business
GeoEconomics Center

Econographics Jun 16, 2023

What the EU’s economic security strategy needs to achieve

By Elmar Hellendoorn

The Commission must balance members’ economic relations with China and simultaneously coax them toward a more “realpolitik” view of the world. None of that will be easy.
China Economy & Business

Featured analysis and in-depth reports

GeoEconomics Center

Report Oct 17, 2022

Modernizing the Bretton Woods Institutions for the twenty-first century

By Ajay Chhibber

The challenges that led to World War II have resurfaced and created the dire need for reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions. A new system to address these challenges requires the three core “Rs”—a revised global remit, an enhanced resource base, and a mandate to monitor agreed-upon global rules.
Economy & Business Financial Regulation
GeoEconomics Center

Report Oct 17, 2022

Changing Bretton Woods Institutions: How non-state and quasi-state actors can help drive the global development agenda

By Nisha Narayanan

This new report examines the increasingly influential role of non-state and quasi-public actors in global development and sustainable finance, specifically through the rising level of sustainable investments in emerging and development markets.
Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform
GeoEconomics Center

Report Oct 17, 2022

How China would like to reshape international economic institutions

By Victor Shih

Despite its size, China has an inadequate voice in traditional Bretton Woods Institutions. This paper examines aspects of the dissatisfaction China has with existing global governance institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It also discusses the proposed changes to these institutions according to discussions with Chinese experts.
China Economy & Business
GeoEconomics Center

Report Oct 17, 2022

The evolution of the IMF: A case for IMF 1.5 before Bretton Woods 2.0

By Hung Tran

Bretton Woods Institutions will face enormous challenges going forward. While ambitious reforms are needed, its unlikely they will be seriously considered due to high geopolitical tension and mistrust among major countries. Nevertheless, the need for reform is pressing. Therefore, it is important to look at more feasible reform, narrower in scope and technocratic in nature, to improve the these institutions.
China Economy & Business
Read all our reports here

Recent Commentary & Analysis

Econographics

Jul 19, 2023

Global Sanctions Dashboard: Sanctions alone won’t stop the Wagner Group 

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, and Ryan Murphy

Existing sanctions against the Wagner Group, limitations around enforcing them, and what more Western allies can do to counter Wagner’s influence in Africa.

Africa Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2023

Russia just quit a grain deal critical to global food supply. What happens now?

By Atlantic Council experts

The last ship under the UN- and Turkey-brokered deal to export grain and fertilizer from Ukraine by sea has left Odesa. Atlantic Council experts explain what to expect next.

Africa Conflict
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, shakes hands with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, left, during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Friday, July 7, 2023.

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2023

The flawed premises behind Janet Yellen’s China visit

By Hung Tran

Yellen’s visit will not cool US-China tensions, as her statements were premised on two false assumptions about the two countries’ relations.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 12, 2023

Progress on debt restructuring provides a glimmer of hope for developing countries

By Jeremy Mark and Vasuki Shastry

As government and private-sector creditors finally take steps to restructure debt, questions remain over their readiness to meaningfully reduce debt burdens.

Africa China
Read More

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Team

Staff

Josh Lipsky

Senior Director

GeoEconomics Center

China Digital Currencies

Staff

Kimberly Donovan

Director, Economic Statecraft Initiative

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economic Sanctions

Staff

Charles Lichfield

Deputy Director and C. Boyden Gray Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Staff

Ananya Kumar

Associate Director, Digital Currencies

GeoEconomics Center

Arabic Digital Currencies

Staff

Niels Graham

Associate Director

GeoEconomics Center

China East Asia

Staff

Mrugank Bhusari

Assistant Director

GeoEconomics Center

China Conflict

Staff

Maia Nikoladze

Assistant Director

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economic Sanctions

Staff

Sophia Busch

Program Assistant

GeoEconomics Center

Middle East Trade

Staff

Alisha Chhangani

Program Assistant

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Financial Regulation

Experts

Fellow

Carole House

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Cybersecurity Digital Currencies

Fellow

Sarah Bauerle Danzman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Fellow

Chris Brummer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economic Sanctions

Staff

Sophia Busch

Program Assistant

GeoEconomics Center

Middle East Trade

Fellow

Caroline Cecot

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
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Events

Public Event Fri, September 22, 2023 • 8:00 am ET

Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The goal of this year's Transatlantic Forum is to outline a way forward on the use of tools of economic statecraft.
Economic Sanctions Economy & Business European Union Financial Regulation
Flagship Event Tue, November 28, 2023 • 8:00 am ET

Future of central bank digital currency: Pathways to global standards

This first-of-its-kind convening of leaders from international financial institutions, central banks, businesses, technology providers, and governments aims to establish an understanding of the issues countries must consider before issuing a CBDC.
Digital Currencies Economy & Business International Financial Institutions