Shaping the Future of the Global Digital Economy
An independent international forum engaging policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders to advance cooperative governance frameworks for the global digital economy.
The Nash Equilibrium of Cross-Border Data Governance
A game-theoretic analysis of how nations' individually rational data sovereignty policies create a collective action problem that suppresses global digital trade by an estimated 15–25%.
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Central Bank Digital Currencies and the Coordination Game of Monetary Systems
With 134 countries exploring CBDCs, the architecture choices made today will shape monetary systems for decades. This analysis applies coordination game theory to map the strategic landscape.
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AI Compute and the Stackelberg Structure of Semiconductor Supply Chains
Advanced semiconductor fabrication exhibits extreme geographic concentration — the top 3 facilities produce 92% of sub-5nm chips. We model this as a Stackelberg game to quantify systemic fragility.
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Digital Public Infrastructure: The Economic Multiplier Effect Across Emerging Markets
Analysis of real-time payment systems (UPI, Pix, M-Pesa) reveals that digital public infrastructure acts as an economic multiplier far exceeding traditional infrastructure investment returns.
Read moreHow We Drive Impact
Producing actionable research across three critical domains
Our thematic Working Groups convene leading scholars and practitioners to produce peer-reviewed research, policy briefs, and governance frameworks addressing the digital economy's most pressing challenges.
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Regulation & Policy
Developing adaptive governance frameworks for digital assets, data sovereignty, and cross-border regulatory harmonisation — balancing innovation imperatives with consumer protection and institutional accountability.
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Finance & Economy
Analysing the structural transformation of global financial systems through central bank digital currencies, decentralised finance, and inclusive economic models — with emphasis on monetary policy implications and financial stability.
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Technology & Transformation
Investigating the systemic implications of emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence, distributed ledger systems, and quantum computing — for industrial competitiveness, workforce transformation, and responsible innovation governance.
Explore groupFostering high-level dialogue through structured convenings
GDEF convenes policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders through a structured programme of summits, regional roundtables, and expert-led webinars that advance shared understanding and catalyse collective action.
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Annual Summit
The Forum's flagship convening, bringing together council members, senior government officials, and industry leaders for two days of keynote addresses, working sessions, and strategic dialogue.
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Regional Roundtables
Focused convenings in key regions — Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas — addressing localised governance challenges and fostering regional cooperation.
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Monthly Webinars
Monthly online sessions convening expert panels on timely digital economy governance topics, open to all Forum members and invited institutional partners.
Learn moreEngaging a global, multistakeholder network
Our members and partners span academia, government, industry, and finance across more than 50 countries — ensuring that the Forum's work reflects diverse perspectives and produces balanced, implementable outcomes.
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Academia
Professors and researchers from leading universities worldwide contributing rigorous, evidence-based analysis and peer-reviewed scholarship.
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Government
Senior government officials and regulators shaping the legislative and institutional frameworks that govern digital markets and innovation.
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Industry
Technology companies, enterprises, and innovation ecosystems driving digital transformation across critical economic sectors.
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Finance
Banks, fintech firms, and financial institutions navigating the structural shift toward digital-first financial services and infrastructure.
Learn moreWhy the Global Digital Economy Forum?
The digital economy now accounts for a significant and growing share of global GDP, yet the governance frameworks that underpin cross-border data flows, digital finance, and emerging technologies remain fragmented and inadequate. GDEF addresses this governance deficit by convening diverse stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies for digital regulation, financial innovation, and inclusive growth.
Through our thematic working groups, peer-reviewed research, and structured convenings, the Forum provides a platform where rigorous analysis informs policy and where multistakeholder cooperation produces implementable governance frameworks.
Learn more about GDEFAdvancing Research Across Critical Domains
Our thematic working groups convene leading scholars and practitioners to produce actionable research and policy recommendations on the digital economy's most pressing governance challenges.
Regulation & Policy
Developing adaptive governance frameworks for digital assets, data sovereignty, and cross-border regulatory harmonisation — balancing innovation imperatives with consumer protection and institutional accountability.
Explore group Finance & Economy
Analysing the structural transformation of global financial systems through central bank digital currencies, decentralised finance, and inclusive economic models — with emphasis on monetary policy implications and financial stability.
Explore group Technology & Transformation
Investigating the systemic implications of emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence, distributed ledger systems, and quantum computing — for industrial competitiveness, workforce transformation, and responsible innovation governance.
Explore groupOur Global Council
Distinguished policymakers, scholars, and practitioners from over 50 countries providing strategic guidance and intellectual leadership.
Nafis Alam
Professor
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation
Aleksandr Alekseenko
Associate Professor
Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service
Jason Allen
Senior Research Fellow
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Douglas Arner
Professor
University of Hong Kong
Atul Babu
Founder & CEO
Dhata Tech
Edward Buckingham
Professor
Monash Business School
Agostino Capponi
Associate Professor
Columbia University
Hung-Yi Chen
Assistant Dean
Zhejiang University International Business School
Latest Insights
Rigorous analysis at the intersection of economics, technology, and global governance — grounded in game theory, mechanism design, and empirical evidence.
The Nash Equilibrium of Cross-Border Data Governance
A game-theoretic analysis of how nations' individually rational data sovereignty policies create a collective action problem that suppresses global digital trade by an estimated 15–25%.
Read analysis Central Bank Digital Currencies and the Coordination Game of Monetary Systems
With 134 countries exploring CBDCs, the architecture choices made today will shape monetary systems for decades. This analysis applies coordination game theory to map the strategic landscape.
Read analysisJoin the Global Digital Economy Forum
Engage with a global community of policymakers, researchers, and practitioners advancing cooperative governance for the digital economy. Contribute to evidence-based policy development, participate in high-level convenings, and help shape frameworks that drive responsible digital transformation.
Become a Member