The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive multilateral trade agreement now in the works that focuses on the Asia-Pacific region, could add billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and solidify Washington's commitment to the Pacific. But if the Obama administration fails to calm critics of the deal, there is a growing possibility that it could collapse.

Tough economic times are often met in Washington with calls for retrenchment. But for decades, write two former top Pentagon officials, long-term forward deployments of U.S. forces and robust alliances have guaranteed stability and uninterrupted trade, the very conditions the United States needs for economic prosperity. The Obama administration gets it.

China's rise is overstated, and its financial problems are massive, argues Derek Scissors. Arvind Subramanian disagrees, claiming that Beijing already calls theshots in the global economy.

As Indonesia hosts a number of high-level summits this year, it looks set to take its place among the world's economic superstars.

In the wake of the financial crisis, the United States is no longer the leader of the global economy, and no other nation has the political and economic leverage to replace it.

Most nations have adjusted their foreign policies to focus on economic security, but the United States has not.

Brazil's rapid economic growth has transformed the country into a new global heavyweight, but Brazil must not let an overly ambitious foreign policy agenda distract it from lingering domestic challenges.

Although the wary are fretting about China's unprecedented financial might, Beijing's policies -- hoarding foreign currency reserves and sending money abroad -- have so far been better for other countries than for China itself.

After World War II, "trading states" seemed to be charting a new path forward. But small was not beautiful. Even great powers found themselves negotiating larger markets through economic associations with others. It's time the United States became such a power.

Across the world, the free market is being overtaken by state capitalism, a system in which the state is the leading economic actor. How should the United States respond?

Lobbies representing foreign interests have an increasingly powerful -- and often harmful -- impact on how the United States formulates its foreign policy, and ultimately hurt U.S. credibility around the world.

Debating Venezuela's progress.

Sebastian Mallaby's update to his January/February 2007 essay "Hands Off Hedge Funds."

The debate over a new anti-corruption law in India highlights political dysfunction in New Delhi and distracts from the larger issue of an urgent need for economic reforms.

A spate of high-profile scams has weakened India's government and raised concerns among foreign investors. Businesses and civil society say the country needs more effective anti-corruption laws.

The financial meltdown of 2008 has thrown the liberal economic model into question. Debate among international policymakers could result in regulatory tweaks or efforts to scuttle free-market orthodoxy altogether.

A financial crisis in the final stages of the U.S. presidential race, rather than sidelining foreign policy, could demonstrate how it intersects with U.S. domestic concerns.

Russia is seeking support from regional groups such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a counter to the West, but this is proving to be more difficult than it anticipated.

Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states seek to diversify their economies beyond oil, but the project comes laden with risk.