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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 Test of How Effective Sanctions Are

Feb 24, 2022

The threat of severe sanctions failed to stop a Russian invasion of Ukraine. But if and when harsher economic punishment is handed down to Moscow, what effect might it have?
Commentary

How China Plays by Different Rules—at Everyone Else's Expense

Feb 7, 2022

A single Chinese state-run firm has secured a controlling interest in at least 33 radio stations in 14 countries. But there is virtually no opportunity for foreign ownership, input, or influence in the Chinese media marketplace. This inequity presents U.S. leaders with an opportunity: Unless China opens its media marketplace to foreign investment and ownership, its firms should be forced to divest their American holdings.

Explore International Economic Relations

Commentary

Make Russia an Offer on Ukraine It Can't Refuse

An international initiative that does not appear to emanate from NATO or the EU could help bring Russia to the table, in part by accepting that Moscow, too, has a role. An international peacekeeping force could open the way for a negotiated end to the conflict.

Aug 20, 2014
Report

China's Strategy Toward South and Central Asia

China's response to the complex challenges on its western borders during the past two decades has been to adopt an "Empty Fortress" strategy, whereby China boldly projects an image of considerable strength in Central and South Asia to mask serious frailty. China is not a major threat to U.S. interests there and is unlikely to pose one in the near future.

Aug 11, 2014
Testimony

China’s Industrial Policies in Commercial Aviation Manufacturing

Until recently, the Chinese aircraft manufacturing industry produced aircraft almost exclusively for its military. As China transitions to commercial aircraft production, does it need to rethink its investments and policies to become more globally integrated and competitive?

Jul 31, 2014
Blog

China Unlikely to Blink in Maritime Dispute with Vietnam over Oil Rig

Tensions are rising in the South China Sea, where China moved a state-owned oil rig, reportedly accompanied by six warships, into disputed waters last month, triggering anti-Chinese demonstrations in Vietnam that resulted in four deaths.

Jun 12, 2014
Commentary

In Africa: U.S. Promotes Security, China Does Business

Africans require both security and economic growth. Global powers like China and the United States do not need to choose between the two when focusing their foreign policy efforts.

May 31, 2014
Commentary

A Liberated Yuan Is Likely to Fall

Some critics claim that the People's Bank of China is contriving to weaken the yuan's value to promote Chinese exports and stimulate the country's lagging growth. But the yuan's true value may be lower than some popular estimates.

May 21, 2014
Commentary

India Votes — and What It Might Mean for the United States

If elected, Modi could turn out to be the politician that India's Congress accuses him of being, focusing on an internal agenda that discourages foreign engagement. The U.S. would no doubt prefer that he follow the economic course he charted in Gujarat.

May 5, 2014
Report

China's International Behavior: Chinese translation (traditional characters)

China's international activism is one of the newest and most important trends in global affairs. This monograph (translated into traditional Chinese characters) analyzes how China defines its international objectives, how it is pursuing them, and what it means for U.S. interests.

May 5, 2014
Commentary

Why Ukraine Crisis Has China in a Bind

As much as China may wish to lean on Russia should Beijing find itself at odds with the United States, Xi seeks a new type of great power relationship with the United States that calls for mutual respect, no confrontation, and cooperation.

Apr 16, 2014
News Release

China Faces Several Obstacles to Building Successful Domestic Commercial Aircraft Industry

China's investment of billions of dollars in a domestic commercial aviation industry has yet to result in a commercially viable aircraft and is unlikely to do so for the foreseeable future.

Apr 4, 2014
Report

China Faces Several Obstacles to Building Successful Domestic Commercial Aircraft Industry

China's investment of billions of dollars in a domestic commercial aviation industry has yet to result in a commercially viable aircraft and is unlikely to do so for the foreseeable future.

Apr 4, 2014
Blog

RAND Conference: Iran in the Days After a Nuclear Deal

Expressing optimism that a deal to end Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons could succeed, experts said during a panel discussion at RAND that such an agreement could open the door to a new era for Iran, free of international sanctions but still cautious of relations with the U.S.

Apr 3, 2014
Commentary

No Easy Answers for Ukraine

What Russia seeks from its adventure is status, importance and free reign in its neighborhood, for a start. If sanctions and other responses are short-lived, Moscow will feel victorious, and possibly emboldened to future aggression.

Mar 26, 2014
Commentary

The Foreign Policy Essay: Evangelicals, Israel, and U.S. Foreign Policy

The religiously grounded pro-Israel viewpoint distorts American policy towards Israel with an unhelpful inflexibility and exaggerates the political importance of the country (indeed, the whole region) to the United States, says Paul Miller.

Mar 19, 2014
News Release

Chinese Engagement in Africa Is a Two-Way Dynamic

Contrary to conventional wisdom, relations between China and Africa are a vibrant two-way dynamic in which Chinese leaders adapt to feedback from the continent.

Mar 12, 2014
Research Brief

China in Africa: Implications of a Deepening Relationship

Discusses China's engagement with African countries, including what each side wants from these relationships, how Africans view China's involvement and how China has reacted to that, and whether the United States and China are competing in Africa.

Mar 12, 2014
Commentary

Happy 80th Birthday, 'GDP' — Is It Not Time to Retire?

While there are merits to using GDP, it is clear that it fails to measure several important potential externalities to economic growth, such as environmental damage, poor working conditions, or violations of privacy rights.

Feb 6, 2014
Commentary

EU-Ukraine Alliance Will Benefit Russia, Too

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement would benefit both Ukraine and Russia in many ways, especially in greater trade, social, and cultural exchanges. Ukraine's closer association with the EU would actually increase Russian trade with Ukraine as long as Russia does not impose artificial restrictions.

Jan 28, 2014
Commentary

Why New Sanctions on Iran Won't Work

Sanctions are not a button that can be pushed to strengthen the U.S. position automatically; they must be used in tandem with diplomacy, and a deeper understanding of Iranian, Chinese and Russian motivations.

Jan 22, 2014
Journal Article

Dragon Watching Its Tail: China's Evolving Engagement Strategy in Africa

This article evaluates the state of Chinese Economic involvement in Africa.

Jan 1, 2014

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RAND Topic:
International Economic Relations

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