Great power competition is affecting the economic, financial and technological realms and changing the nature of globalisation. States leverage or exploit their economic advantages – such as raw materials, industrial production, financial capital, technologies and corporations – for geostrategic ends. The increasing use of sanctions, export controls, tariffs, investment screening and local content rules is not only transforming the globalised economy, but also turning companies and financial institutions – often involuntarily – into active players in geopolitical rivalries.

 

At the same time, the logic of great power competition is leading governments use foreign policy tools and industrial policy to gain an economic advantage in pursuit of growth, employment and technological leadership. It is often hard to identify whether geo-economic strategies and actions are driven by national security, economic, or even other motivations. 

 

The geo-economics programme studies these policy issues at the intersection of economics, finance and geopolitics. We develop data driven research and analysis, leveraging our location in the heart of the City of London and GPI’s global network of experts. Our particular focus is on the importance of the geographically unequal distribution of economic capabilities in the international system, and how policymakers and businesses can devise strategies to achieve their goals.