The global business landscape is no longer driven by efficiency alone. Strategic capitalism is reshaping markets, as states reassert power over the economy and national interest trumps laissez-faire thinking. Through a geoeconomic lens, we help companies and governments see how power, markets, and security now intersect—and why geopolitics can no longer be treated as background noise.
For decades, geopolitics was seen as the domain of diplomats and generals. But today, power is exercised through markets, not just militaries. Trade, investment, supply chains, and industrial capacity have become tools of statecraft—and sources of corporate vulnerability. Our geoeconomic approach helps businesses understand how these dynamics shape market access, regulatory risk, and competitive positioning in an increasingly politicized global economy.
Risk management is no longer just about minimizing exposure—it’s about securing strategic advantage. In an age of sanctions, export controls, and weaponized interdependence, firms must anticipate how politics disrupt markets and shape outcomes. ESF helps companies move from reactive risk mapping to proactive positioning. We define a geoeconomic moat: the ability to operate, compete, and grow even amid coercion, fragmentation, and political pressure.
Insight alone doesn’t move the needle—action does. At ESF, we translate geoeconomic analysis into decision-ready tools. Our work combines advanced data analytics, scenario-based foresight, and tailored assessments to support concrete decisions in boardrooms, ministries, and investment committees. We don’t just explain the world—we help shape your response to it.
Our roots are Nordic, but our relevance is global. We believe that values-based competitiveness, strategic resilience, and public-private trust are not just regional strengths—they are global necessities. In a fractured world, resilience depends on cooperation, credibility, and long-term thinking. The Nordic model offers a blueprint for building economic security fit for the 21st century.
The Economic Security Forum, in partnership with Hanken & SSE Executive Education, is launching Mastering Geoeconomic Strategy, a multi-company executive programme for CEOs, CFOs, and senior strategy leaders.
This ESF Brief presents survey insights from Nordic companies on their exposure to geoeconomic disruption, highlighting the growing impact of policy-driven risks, operational pressure points, and the structural constraints shaping corporate adjustment capacity in an increasingly uncertain global economy.
