Allison J. Smith

CFR Staff

Allison J. Smith

Associate Director, CFR RealEcon Initiative

Allison J. Smith is associate director for global economics at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), where she works with the director of CFR’s Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies on RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership. Before joining CFR, Smith worked as a consultant conducting anti-money laundering investigations and as a paralegal in the areas of commercial litigation and criminal defense. Smith holds a BA in international relations and Russian from Beloit College and an MA in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

RealEcon

The End of the Trail: RealEcon Makes Its Final Stop of 2024 in Oregon

Oregon is a resource-rich, trade-dependent state where many benefit from international engagement, but economic challenges persist.

Article by Allison J. Smith and Matthew P. Goodman December 30, 2024 RealEcon
RealEcon

Juxtaposing Realities in New England: RealEcon Visits Massachusetts and New Hampshire

New England tells the story of two different economic realities: one of prosperous, highly educated, international elites; the other of middle-class families struggling to cope with the cost of living.

Article by Allison J. Smith and Matthew P. Goodman November 13, 2024 RealEcon
RealEcon

Trade-offs in the Desert: RealEcon Visits Arizona

From semiconductors and water conservation to mining and the clean energy transition, Arizona is balancing trade-offs that will have important lessons for the country.

Article by Allison J. Smith and Matthew P. Goodman October 30, 2024 RealEcon
RealEcon

Reimagining American Cities: RealEcon Visits Western Pennsylvania and New York

On the latest leg of its listening tour, RealEcon walks through the transformation of industrial cities in the Northeast.

Article by Allison J. Smith and Matthew P. Goodman August 15, 2024 RealEcon
RealEcon

On to Wisconsin: RealEcon Visits the Badger State

From ginseng farms to food-processing facilities, Wisconsin businesses shine light on how trade policy and foreign investment impact rural America.

Article by Allison J. Smith and Matthew P. Goodman May 14, 2024 RealEcon
RealEcon

Leadership Starts With Listening

Building a durable consensus for U.S. economic leadership requires listening to what Americans think. The first stop in the RealEcon team's listening tour was Florida.

Article by Allison J. Smith April 1, 2024 RealEcon
Matthew P. Goodman

RealEcon

Tucson Economic Leaders Collaborate with Council on Foreign Relations to Shape National Policy

Featuring Matthew P. Goodman and Allison J. Smith via Hoodline October 23, 2024

Climate Change

Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures

International efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But experts say countries aren’t doing enough to limit dangerous global warming.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong January 21, 2025 Renewing America

Southeast Asia

What Is ASEAN?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization that brings together disparate neighbors to address economic and security issues, but the group’s impact remains limited.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors January 15, 2025

Taiwan

Why China-Taiwan Relations Are So Tense

Differences over Taiwan’s status have fueled rising tensions between the island and mainland. Taiwan is the likeliest potential flash point in U.S.-China relations.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong January 15, 2025

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