In The News

China’s Lust for Business Learning

Della Bradshaw August 1, 2005
The Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s deprived China’s prospective leaders of thorough training in business and management. Today, many CEOs or board members of major corporations head back to business school. While MBA programs in the US see a decline in application numbers, demand for similar programs in China is surging. As the government seeks to prevent the proliferation of third...

From Shoes to Aircraft to Investment, Zimbabwe Pursues a Made-in-China

Michael Wines July 27, 2005
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has earned the scorn of most Western countries for his brutal suppression of human rights.. As a result, amidst calls for democratic reforms, Zimbabwe’s trade has dwindled. However, China, in constant search for natural resources and markets to fuel its economic boom, has shown itself willing to overlook the rough governance styles of its trading partners....

Toyota, Moving Northward

Paul Krugman July 25, 2005
When Toyota decided to build a new assembly plant in Canada's Ontario, despite being wooed by many American states, they opted for a location with a publicly funded health care scheme as well as high-quality public education. The idea that big government can actually help attract global business is a commonplace in Canada, but is anathema to most American decision makers. If more businesses...

Revaluation: A Double-Edged Sword for China

Xu Haihui July 21, 2005
When the Chinese central bank decided today to abandon its policy of pegging the renminbi to the dollar, it took the first step towards a truly floating currency. Revaluation will have a different impact on different segments of the Chinese economy, its influence determined by both the extent to which a given segment is dependent on foreign capital, and by its quality and efficiency. The textile...

Global Revolution

Arindam Bhattacharya July 19, 2005
According to Boston Consulting Group leaders Arindam Bhattacharya and Arun Maira, the so-called "third wave" of globalization is giving unprecedented opportunity to emerging markets to reshape the global economy in their own image. Whereas the first and second phases of globalization cemented the dominance of the "triad" of North America, Europe, and Japan, the third step is...

Opel on the Outside, Mao on the Inside

Gerald Traufetter July 13, 2005
Lined up at the port in Antwerp, Belgium, are 200 new five-door sports utility vehicles – the first Chinese-produced cars to reach Europe. Despite their close exterior resemblance to the Opel Frontera, the imported models do not match the high quality of Western versions. It is the low price of the cars, however, that appeals to consumers. Manufactured in China, the utility vehicles cost 40...

Africa Should Follow China Online

David Bowen July 12, 2005
Although there has recently been much talk about African entrepreneurs seeking to turn their continent around, David Bowen suggests that their prospects look bleak, particularly considering the lack of African commercial activity on the internet. Africa's situation is in stark contrast to that of Asia – especially China – where traders have taken advantage of online networking opportunities...