In The News

Planned Chinatown Raises Hackles in Rural Germany

Markus Feldenkirchen March 25, 2008
The city council of rural Oranienburg has approved construction of a Chinatown for its community, but agreement has stopped there. While Germans demand meticulous and time-consuming documentation and construction that conforms to city codes, the Chinese would prefer informal and rapid “guan xi” decision-making. The definition of “home” can increasingly blur as local flavors change with the influx...

Oil May Not Grease Friendship

Amity Shlaes March 24, 2008
Researchers have long pointed to some correlations in international affairs: Oil countries tend not to be entrepreneurial; nations dependent on one industry, such as oil extraction, tend to be hostile with the US; and entrepreneurial nations tend to befriend the US. But such observations were based largely on anecdotal evidence. In a study for the Council of Foreign Relations, Amity Shlaes and...
January 28, 2008
Corporate boards reflect the values of a company and their national culture. Although multiple forces pressure firms around the globe to follow the US-model of corporate governance, divergent styles do emerge and challenge the status quo. Major institutional investors have long invested in US markets and appreciated strong regulations on how companies audit and organize their boards. Those huge...

Rocking Lolita in Tehran

Colin Meyn January 8, 2008
Iran’s strict adherence to theocratic principles has historically led it to muzzle such perpetrators of poison as rock bands, women singers, political dissenters, and other marginalized groups. In 2007, the scene changed when a film documenting Iran’s evolving underground music scene was screened internationally. Beyond the reach of the censors, this film – Sounds of Silence – might generate the...

African Aid Projects That Work: Partnerships on the Ground, Not Donations From a Distance

January 1, 2008
Donors who want to help Africa, by sending funds or supplies, must do research about the real needs and support systems in any community: Funds can go unspent or into the pockets of corrupt officials; sending electrical devices to communities that lack power or office supplies to organizations lacking desks or office space can often end up frustrating both donors and Africans alike. Gifts that...

Eight Business Technology Trends to Watch

James M. Manyika December 26, 2007
Businesses continue to innovate by applying technology in new ways, suggests a McKinsey Quarterly report that identifies emerging trends. Technology allows businesses to harvest talent inside and outside corporate borders – and rely on consumers for more information and innovation. “Competitive advantage will shift to companies that can master the art of breaking down and recomposing tasks,”...

How to Save Mother Earth Without Breaking the Bank

Marc Gunther December 4, 2007
By acting quickly, the US could cap greenhouse gas emissions with little sacrifice. Businesses and consumers must shift to using energy-efficient and pollution-reducing measures, suggests Marc Gunther for Fortune magazine, while alternative energy sources and innovation would also contribute to reductions. The strategy will work only if the society puts in a collective effort, according to the...