capital war

plural capital wars

1. neologismA state of intense economic conflict or geopolitical competition centered on the control, restriction, or redirection of financial capital, investment flows, and market access.

   As the trade war stabilizes, the capital war begins, with nations decoupling their banking systems and investment portfolios.

   2025 November 14, J. Smith, “Financing Friction”, in Global Finance Review

   2 more examples

   The conventional analytical models under which the market is viewed are simply no longer useful, and a new model is needed. Specifically, a new model is required that views market developments as shortlived tactical combat outcomes in the protracted struggle between the major central banks of Europe, Japan, and the United States to influence international capital flows.

   2000 July/August, Criton M Zoakos, “Today's global capital war”, in The International Economy, volume 14, number 4, page 6

   Then there is the elephant in the bond room: the risk that the US-China trade war turns into a capital war, prompting Beijing (currently the second-biggest holder of Treasuries) to run from dollar assets.

   2025 April 9, Gillian Tett, “What is behind the Treasury sell-off?”, in Financial Times