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In the News: Daniel McDowell

McDowell Explains How US Sanctions Boost China’s Cross-Border Currency Use in The Diplomat Article

“By growing the use of the RMB in cross-border trade settlement directly between China and Russia, U.S. financial sanctions cut targeted actors off from using the dollar system, which forces targets into alternative currencies that are exchanged outside of the U.S. financial system,” says Daniel McDowell, professor of political science.

October 11, 2024

Patel and McDowell Discuss Trump’s Plan to Impose Tariffs on Countries That Start Wars in The Hill

“The cost to the private sector is quite high,” says Kristen Patel, professor of practice of policy studies. “Former President Trump has not coherently explained how tariffs would benefit us, companies and consumers.” Daniel McDowell, professor of political science, says, “The idea of using tariffs to deter countries from invading other countries, it’s pretty out there.”

September 13, 2024

McDowell Weighs In on China’s International Use of Renminbi in Financial Times Article

“I think it’s very unlikely that we’ll see China’s trade with the United States, with the European Union, moving into Chinese currency,” says Daniel McDowell, professor of political science. 

August 29, 2024

Maxwell School 2024-25 Faculty Promotions Include Four Tenure Appointments

Edwin Ackerman, Marc Garcia, Timur Hammond and Alex Rothenberg have been promoted to associate professor.

August 1, 2024

Black Representation and the Popular Legitimacy of the Federal Reserve

Daniel McDowell, David A. Steinberg

“Black representation and the popular legitimacy of the Federal Reserve,” co-authored by Professor of Political Science Daniel McDowell, was published in the European Journal of Political Economy.

July 19, 2024

Developing-Country Representation and Public Attitudes toward International Organizations

Daniel McDowell, David Steinberg, S Erdem Aytaç, Dimitar Gueorguiev
“Developing-Country Representation and Public Attitudes toward International Organizations: The Case of IMF Governance Reform,” co-authored by political scientists Daniel McDowell and Dimitar Gueorguiev, was published in International Studies Quarterly.
July 15, 2024

McDowell Discusses Sanctions Circumvention on The Sanctions Age Podcast

“De-dollarization is sort of a hedging exercise. It's preparing for that potential instance of sanctions in the future or adapting to the current sanctions that you're facing but it is real, it's happening and it does have important implications for the U.S. and for the world,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

May 3, 2024

McDowell Quoted in Business Insider Article on Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina

"Nabiullina has been very effective at stabilizing the Russian economy, despite the enormous economic pressure from sanctions," says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

April 11, 2024

McDowell Contributes to Inkstick Piece on the United States’ Geoeconomic Strategy

"Yes, de-dollarization is real, and it is happening. No, this does not mean that the dollar’s days are numbered," says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

December 12, 2023

McDowell Contributes to Wilson Center Report on China’s Foreign Economic Policy

In his essay, the Maxwell School political scientist contends that Chinese bank expansion abroad may weaken Washington’s ability to leverage financial sanctions.

November 29, 2023

McDowell Contributes Chapter to Atlantic Council Report on Economic Statecraft

Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science, authored "New era of financial sanctions: Adapting to de-dollarization," as part of the Atlantic Council report, "The US, EU, and UK need a shared approach to economic statecraft. Here’s where to start."

September 28, 2023

McDowell Discusses BRICS, the Dollar and Risks to US Global Power in Financial Times, Foreign Policy

Talk of a BRICS common currency is “really a reflection of a desire among some segments of the world to have some counterweight to the U.S., the U.S. economy, the dollar,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. But “I think most of this is just in fantasy land, because I don’t see any world in which it is really going to emerge in the way some people might hope.”

September 6, 2023

Daniel McDowell Testifies Before Congressional Subcommittee, Joins Atlantic Council

The Maxwell School associate professor of political science has been sought for the expertise he shared in his recent book, ‘Bucking the Buck.’

August 4, 2023

McDowell Discusses How Geoeconomics Impacts Central Bank Reserve Managers in OMFIF Article

"After 9/11, the U.S. Treasury recognised that global dollar dominance gave Washington control over the critical plumbing of global finance. A new breed of financial sanctions emerged which could precisely cut individual targets—terrorists, foreign government officials, state institutions, firms—off from the dollar system. ‘Smart’ financial sanctions revolutionised economic warfare," writes Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

July 18, 2023

McDowell Weighs In on Washington’s Weaponization of the US Dollar in Bloomberg Article

To ensure long-term efficacy, sanctions are often better left as a threat and not actually carried out, says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. 

June 15, 2023

McDowell Quoted in DW Article on the Decline of the Dollar’s Dominance in the Middle East

"Statements are easy, action is more difficult," says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. "For oil-producing states, like Saudi Arabia, these sorts of statements and agitations are also a way to get America's attention. Flirting with the Chinese may make American policymakers focus more attention on the interests of the Gulf states." 

June 1, 2023

McDowell Talks to Foreign Policy About De-Dollarization

“To me, de-dollarization just means a government’s ability to reduce its dependence or reliance on the dollar,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. “I think the key thing here is to try to distinguish or separate the concept of de-dollarization from the end of dollar dominance. I don’t think those two things have to go together.”

May 23, 2023

McDowell Talks to The Guardian, VOA About China’s Push to Internationalize Its Currency

"Over the last 15 years or so, we've seen some policies aimed at promoting its [renminbi] international use, but we've also seen a lot of policies that make it less attractive," says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

May 15, 2023

McDowell Comments on the Use of China’s Renminbi as a Global Currency in The Wire China

“China had economic motives to de-dollarize that predate sanction concerns,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. “When the U.S. economy had a financial crisis, China ended up getting hurt. China figured, we should probably promote our own currency now.”

May 2, 2023

McDowell Weighs in on Brazil-China Relationship in Washington Post Article

“When China and Brazil sign an agreement like this, it’s trying to put into place the infrastructure that would make it possible to use China’s currency, but that doesn’t mean that individual firms are going to choose that,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

April 20, 2023
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