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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

China's Currency

Sep 28, 2015

Much of the worry in the United States and elsewhere about China's currency “manipulation” is overblown because a less restricted yuan would more likely be overvalued than undervalued, thereby adversely affecting Chinese trade and exports.
Commentary

Unlocking Iran's Economy

Nov 2, 2015

While Rouhani and his team want Iran's gradual opening, reactionary forces aligned with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, much of the security establishment, and the clergy are likely to stand guard against “anti-revolutionary” tendencies and policies.

Explore International Economic Relations

News Release

News Release

Domestic Political Discord Now the Greatest Threat to U.S. Global Leadership

Faced with traditional threats from opponents such as Russia and emerging threats from non-traditional adversaries such as the Islamic State, the United States needs a comprehensive foreign policy strategy that can provide stability and improve policymakers' ability to manage in today's more complex and turbulent times.

Jan 18, 2017
Research Brief

Exploring America's Role in a Turbulent World

The post–Cold War era is over. The United States faces new challenges abroad and rising political polarization at home. How should America advance its interests and pursue new opportunities around the world?

Jan 18, 2017
Report

Domestic Political Discord Is Now the Greatest Threat to U.S. Global Leadership

The United States needs a coherent international strategy for today's turbulent world. But this will be hard to pursue without more domestic political consensus on America's global role.

Jan 18, 2017
Report

How Are European Countries Vulnerable to Russia?

Russia's aggression against Ukraine has highlighted potential threats to NATO and the EU. But European countries differ in how susceptible they are to possible Russian actions.

Jan 18, 2017
Commentary

Rex Tillerson's Many Challenges

If confirmed as secretary of state, Rex Tillerson will face a broad array of challenges. One may be to lend the administration consistency, while closing at least some of the deals that President-elect Trump has promised.

Dec 24, 2016
Commentary

Cracks in the Chinese Powerhouse

Like most countries that have experienced rapid development, China is struggling to transition from a highly successful but unsustainable economic model. Beijing faces the additional challenge of executing difficult reforms in the face of an inhospitable global economy.

Dec 19, 2016
Commentary

Can Trump Really Do Deals with Putin?

Russia is a declining economic power whose foreign policy has led to isolation and criticism. But Putin may have an inflated sense of Russia's importance and expect one-sided U.S. concessions. If so, diplomacy could run into headwinds early in the Trump administration.

Nov 21, 2016
Commentary

Is the U.S. Abandoning the World Order It Created?

In the 20th century the United States created and expanded a world order that has provided security and prosperity—and it has borne much of the cost for sustaining it. Can that liberal global order be updated rather than jettisoned?

Nov 14, 2016
Blog

Pulling Up the Drawbridge 'Is Fundamentally Flawed'

Turning inward in response to rapid global change overstates the costs of doing so and downplays the benefits of facing outward.

Nov 13, 2016
Commentary

If Not Free Trade, Then What?

It may not be unrealistic to hope that the next U.S. president could define and implement a concept of fair trade that is not antitrade.

Nov 4, 2016
Commentary

Righting Relations With Russia

Russia's current anti-Western stridency coincides with rising internal repression. That may limit what the next U.S. president can do to improve relations.

Oct 31, 2016
Commentary

The Legacy Obama Leaves His Successor in Asia

The U.S. pivot to the Indo-Pacific has improved U.S. popularity and influence, and positioned it for gains in regional economic, diplomatic, and military cooperation. The incoming administration would be wise to embrace these gains and build on them to preserve and further develop U.S. interests and influence in the region.

Oct 26, 2016
Commentary

The Made-in-America Global Security and Economic System Still Serves U.S. Interests

The next U.S. president will have many willing partners and an opportunity to expand the global system of security and economic institutions in a way that will help the United States and the world for decades.

Oct 26, 2016
Essay

Election 2016: The International Issues

America's next president will face challenges that test the fundamentals of world order. RAND experts have outlined key decisions, the dangers involved, and the least-bad options that now often pass for good ones.

Oct 7, 2016
Blog

Conversations at RAND: Howard J. Shatz on the International Economy

One of the contentious issues in this year's presidential election campaign is the U.S. role in the global economy. A RAND panel offers strategies for the next president, who will face a troubled landscape.

Oct 5, 2016
Commentary

Russia's Determination to Revise the Post-Cold War Order

As long as political will for military measures to contain and deter Russian aggression remains limited, sustaining sanctions against Russia remains the only option to deal with a nation that is determined to revise the post-Cold War political and economic settlement in Europe in its favor.

Sep 30, 2016
Multimedia

Conversation at RAND: U.S. International Economic Strategy

In this Events @ RAND podcast, RAND President and CEO Michael Rich and Howard Shatz, RAND senior economist, discuss the economic policy choices facing the next administration.

Sep 27, 2016
Journal Article

Journal Article

Brexit: What Have We Learned So Far?

On 23 June 2016, the British electorate defied the expectations of political leaders, financial markets and foreign allies by voting to withdraw from the European Union.

Sep 26, 2016
Commentary

Why a Border Wall Would Do Little Besides Waste Money

A wall along the U.S. border with Mexico would not eliminate illegal migration, its maintenance and monitoring would be costly, and it would likely be undermined by tunnelers. Also, severing legitimate cross-border movements for trade and tourism would be tremendously damaging to the U.S. economy.

Sep 26, 2016
Commentary

On Northeast Asia

China has been a major proponent of regional security for Northeast Asia but appears disinterested in Republic of Korea (ROK) security against North Korean missile and nuclear weapon threats.

Sep 23, 2016

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RAND Topic:
International Economic Relations

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