{"id":5882,"date":"2026-03-18T10:19:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/?p=5882"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:28:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:28:27","slug":"geoeconomics-in-practice-state-power-and-trade-in-the-global-economy-insights-from-a-guest-lecture-by-klisman-murati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/institute-for-diplomacy-and-international-affairs\/geoeconomics-in-practice-state-power-and-trade-in-the-global-economy-insights-from-a-guest-lecture-by-klisman-murati","title":{"rendered":"Geoeconomics in Practice: State Power and Trade in the Global Economy \u2014 Insights from a Guest Lecture by Klisman Murati"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Written by Mtendere Nara Horea (Student of MSc Diplomacy, International Business and Trade<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs\u00a0recently welcomed Klisman Murati<\/a>, Founder and CEO of\u00a0Pareto Economics<\/a>, for a timely and thought-provoking lecture on geoeconomics in practice. His message was particular yet expansive: power in the modern world is implemented through economic measures as a through traditional diplomacy and\/or military force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After the presentation, I had the opportunity to ask several questions that further expanded the conversation into how we should think about economic indicators, frontier markets, and career development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rethinking GDP: The Most Misunderstood Indicator?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When asked which economic indicator is most misunderstood today, Murati did not hesitate to say: GDP. He described GDP as a highly oversimplified measure. While it captures aggregate economic output, it fails to reflect inequality, distributional outcomes, institutional strength, or long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A country can present strong GDP growth while experiencing structural instabilities. Without examining inequality, demographic trends, productivity, and governance quality, GDP on its own tells an incomplete story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assessing Frontier Markets: Ambition and Execution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the question of evaluating frontier markets differently from developed economies, Murati reframed how was see frontier markets entirely. They should be assessed based on what they are trying to achieve and the capabilities of them achieving their ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than focusing on the deficits such as lower income levels, weaker institutions, infrastructure gaps, he emphasized direction and capability. Frontier markets should be assessed based on national ambition, policy coherence, institutional capacity and the executional discipline to achieve targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The approach enables a narrative shift from a limitation perspective to a potential outlook while remaining grounded in realism whilst actively implementing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compounding Skills: Incentive, Communication, and Humility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When asked which skill compounded most in his career, Murati\u2019s response was striking in its simplicity: understanding people\u2019s incentives and motivations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markets move because people make decisions. Policies change as stakeholders apply pressure. Organisations succeed because aligned incentives drive performance. The ability to decode motivations, across governments, corporations, institutions and amongst individuals too is foundational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He paired this with two reinforcing traits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n