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International Economic Relations

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Increased international trade, and the lowering of barriers to such trade, frequently results in improved international relations, but it can also lead to trade wars and tariff disputes. RAND research explores bilateral and multilateral economic relations; describes how they affect global alliances, globalization, and the economic health of nations; and recommends methods to develop, encourage, and maintain these relations among diverse nations and cultures.

Commentary
A Case for Greater U.S. Engagement in Central Asia
Central Asia's souring relations with Russia and growing skepticism of Chinese influence have created a rare and valuable window of opportunity for the United States to bolster its image through greater long-term investment in the region.
Sep 11, 2023
Commentary
Consequences of the War in Ukraine: The Economic Fallout
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, projections estimated global economic growth in 2022 would be around 5 percent. But the war in Ukraine contributed to slowed economic growth in 2022 and a slowed recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the broader consequences for the global economy?
Mar 7, 2023

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Report
Evaluatie rijksbrede Brexit-inzet van de Nederlandse overheid: Eindrapport: [Evaluation of the Dutch government's efforts to prepare for Brexit]
Evaluation of how the Netherlands determined its position in the Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK, to what extent the Dutch government sufficiently prepared for its consequences, and whether public expenditures were effective.
Dec 19, 2022
Report
Critical Material Supply Chains Should Be More Resilient
The COVID-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine highlight the vulnerabilities of supply chains that are dependent on foreign inputs. How can the U.S. Department of Defense increase the resilience of its supply chains for materials essential to national security?
Dec 15, 2022
Commentary
How to Counter China's Economic Pressure Campaigns
China's rise has been accompanied by belligerent use of its economic leverage to shape the political and strategic decisions of other countries. The United States could help its treaty allies and partners—and the international system more broadly—by organizing a multilateral response.
Dec 14, 2022
Multimedia
The Future of Space Cooperation Between the U.S. and Japan
Over two days in March 2022, experts from the United States and Japan presented their vision for the future of space science and exploration, cooperation between the U.S. and Japan, and the future space economy.
Dec 7, 2022
Report
A New Era of Major-Power Competition
While there is a general consensus that the United States is now in a new era of strategic competition with China and Russia, there is not yet a clear understanding of what that means or what forms it could take. How can the United States best position itself to succeed?
Nov 30, 2022
Commentary
Politics of Ukrainian Reconstruction
When fighting subsides, Ukraine may undergo reconstruction on the scale of the post–World War II Marshall Plan. Debate is ramping up about core issues, such as the scope of reconstruction, sources of funding, and reforms needed for success. Ukraine and the West might begin now to forge consensus on these issues.
Nov 30, 2022
Commentary
Export Controls Give ASML and the Netherlands an Opportunity to Lead by Example. Will They Take It?
Dutch tech company ASML makes the complex machines required to construct advanced microchips, and it sells many of these machines to China. Harmonization of export controls between the United States and the Netherlands could limit China's development of military technologies and its human rights abuses.
Nov 28, 2022
Commentary
Russian Aircraft Keep Crashing. Could Sanctions Be the Cause?
At least six fixed-wing Russian aircraft have crashed over Russian-controlled airspace since September. Sanctions placed on Russia by the West could well be affecting Russia's ability to manufacture and maintain parts needed to keep aircraft safe.
Nov 22, 2022
Commentary
America's Pacific Island Summit: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The United States hosted its first Pacific Islands Summit in September. Pacific Island leaders and observers from over a dozen states participated in the event and pledged to jointly tackle various challenges. But this historic summit was hardly an absolute success, and should be put within its proper context.
Nov 7, 2022
Commentary
Russia's Su-35: Are Its Military Aircraft Exports Headed for a Fall?
Squeezed by sanctions and pressed to replace equipment destroyed in Ukraine, Russia's aerospace sector isn't likely to have combat aircraft to sell, even if it wants to. If purchasing countries start to change their minds and invest in drones and other less-expensive precision guided munitions, the market for Russian combat aircraft might start to rapidly decline.
Oct 20, 2022
Commentary
American Investment in Mideast to Stay Focused on Larger Economies Amid Ukraine War
China is often viewed as the economic powerhouse in the Middle East, but the United States has extensive trade, investment, and financial links. U.S. economic involvement in the Middle East is likely to stay focused on larger markets in line with economic growth, without dramatic shifts in location or magnitude.
Sep 30, 2022
Blog
National Security After Roe, Women Veterans, COVID-19's Lasting Effects: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how overturning Roe could affect national security, supporting women veterans, responding to the next pandemic, and more.
Sep 16, 2022
Commentary
Sanctioning Business Leaders in Russia
Western sanctions are ensnaring more Russian business leaders, some of whom say they are unjustly targeted. Can those in the private sector reduce their risks of being designated? Perhaps, if they make difficult choices.
Sep 12, 2022
Report
Economic Benefits of U.S. Alliances and Military Engagement
Decisions about alliances and forward military presence should be based on a range of factors beyond potential economic benefits. But there is evidence that military engagement has historically helped the U.S. economy by promoting international commerce.
Sep 1, 2022
Multimedia
North Korean Sanctions Evasion
The United Nations imposed increasingly restrictive sanctions on North Korea after each of the six nuclear weapons tests that it conducted between 2009 and 2016. In this film, experts discuss the threats posed by North Korean proliferation and the importance of enforcing sanctions.
Aug 15, 2022
Blog
Gun Storage, the Dangers of Replacement Theory, War in Ukraine: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how Americans store their guns, why
Jul 15, 2022
Essay
The Economic Returns of Foreign Language Learning
If just 10 percent more students in the United Kingdom mastered Arabic, Mandarin, French, or Spanish, the economic returns could be measured in billions of British pounds. Removing the language barrier reduces trade costs.
Jul 7, 2022
Commentary
Unblocking the Black Sea for Ukrainian Grain
As Russia has been blockading ports around Odesa, Ukrainian grain exports in May were more than 60 percent lower than a year ago. Global hunger has hit a new high while 22 million tons of grain in Ukraine could rot if not exported soon.
Jun 15, 2022
Report
Business Community Support for U.S. Policies Toward China
Policies implemented by the Trump administration were designed to confront China over its problematic behaviors, such as theft of technology and intellectual property. U.S. businesses agreed with the policies, but questioned some of the tactics used. How can Washington address corporate concerns and still compete against China?
May 16, 2022
Commentary
Geostrategic Consequences of Russia's War Against Ukraine
After two months of fighting in Ukraine, some longer-term geostrategic consequences are coming into focus. Russia may emerge as a massive loser. Perhaps not since the collapse of the USSR has European security been so challenged. But Ukraine and its Western partners are showing that aggression in Europe may not pay.
Apr 26, 2022

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RAND Topic:
International Economic Relations

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Sabahat Zafar

M.Phil. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Sabahat Zafar is an M.Phil. student at Pardee RAND and an assistant policy analyst at RAND. Her research interests include international development, climate change, energy policy and resilience, and the allocation of scare public resources.
C. Richard Neu

Adjunct Staff

Richard Neu is an adjunct staff member at the RAND Corporation and formerly a senior economist at RAND. He is also a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Most recently, Neu served as director of the RAND-Initiated Research program. He served for three years as the founding director of…

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