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Elizabeth Economy

Elizabeth Economy

Elizabeth Economy is the C.V. Starr senior fellow and director for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Elizabeth Economy is the C.V. Starr senior fellow and director for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dr. Economy has published widely on both Chinese domestic and foreign policy. Her most recent book, with Michael Levi, is By All Means Necessary: How China’s Resource Quest is Changing the World (Oxford University Press, 2014). She is also the author of the award-winning book The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge to China’s Future (Cornell University Press, 2004; 2nd edition, 2010).

Dr. Economy is a frequent guest on nationally broadcast television and radio programs, has testified before Congress on numerous occasions, and regularly consults for U.S. government agencies and companies. She writes about topics involving China on CFR’s Asia Program blog, Asia Unbound, which is syndicated by Forbes.com.

Dr. Economy serves on the board of managers of Swarthmore College and the board of trustees of the Asia Foundation. She is also on the advisory council of Network 20/20 and the science advisory council of the Stockholm Environment Forum. She is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Agenda Council on the United States and served as a member and then vice chair of WEF’s Global Agenda Council on the Future of China from 2008 to 2014.

Dr. Economy received her BA from Swarthmore College, her AM from Stanford University, and her PhD from the University of Michigan.

Posts by Elizabeth Economy
June 05, 2016

Forty-Five Minutes With Joshua Wong

By Elizabeth Economy
The author meets with the well-known Hong Kong activist.

February 27, 2016

Xi Jinping’s Virtual Political Reality

By Elizabeth Economy
"Xi wants to construct his own political reality."
December 19, 2015

China and Climate Change: Three Things to Watch After Paris

By Elizabeth Economy
China has made its promises. Will it now deliver?

October 02, 2015

The Return of China's Environmental Avenger

By Elizabeth Economy
Pan Yue, China’s most outspoken, innovative, and articulate environmental official, is back in action.

August 28, 2015

A Small Chinese Experiment With Large Environmental Implications

By Elizabeth Economy and Xuehua Zhang
Behind the headlines, local efforts are trying to find workable solutions to China's environmental woes.

July 17, 2015

The Environmental Problem China Can No Longer Overlook

By Elizabeth Economy
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection is taking steps to clean up soil contamination. Will it be enough?
May 23, 2015

The Debate on U.S.-China Relations: Make Room, Make Way, or Make Hay

By Elizabeth Economy
Three recent papers attempt to look at the next stage of the world's most important relationship.

May 23, 2015

Is China’s Environmental Tide Turning? 4 Things to Watch

By Elizabeth Economy
Four barometers for gauging the progress of China's "war on pollution."

April 06, 2015

Why India Won't Follow in China's Environmental Footsteps

By Elizabeth Economy
India's environmental challenges will not mirror China's.

March 21, 2015

The AIIB Debacle: What Washington Should Do Now

By Elizabeth Economy
U.S. strategy on China's new bank has been flawed from the start. Time to step back and regroup.

February 28, 2015

China's Next Challenge: The Depletion of Global Natural Resources

By Elizabeth Economy
China is cleaning up its act at home, but will leaders be willing to tackle illegal environmental depredations abroad?
January 21, 2015

China’s Environmental Enforcement Glitch

By Elizabeth Economy
Local governments need more funding and training to meet Beijing's ambitious environmental protection goals.

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