In The News

Can Authoritarian Capitalism Outlive Lee Kuan Yew?

John Cassidy April 6, 2015
From 1959 to 1990, Lee Kuan Yew guided Singapore’s remarkable rise to an Asian economic powerhouse. The Singaporean prime minister trail-blazed the creation of an “authoritarian capitalist” model of economic development, soon followed by China. The model was built on western ideas favored by Lee including meritocracy, universal public education, and emphasis on science and technology.. But the...

Weak Think Tanks Shackle Nation’s Governance Upgrade

Wang Wenwen January 29, 2015
The mission of most think tanks is to analyze and propose policies for all segments of society, and this requires the ability to investigate, criticize and envision policies freely, often with government or foundation funding. China has more than 400 think tanks, second after the United States with more than 1,800 think tanks, reports Wang Wenwen for Global Times. The Central Committee of the...

The Political Implications of Latin America's Slowing Growth

Eric Farnsworth October 3, 2014
Brazilians head to the polls, and the results could be a bellweather for the whole region. Latin American economies have flourished during the last decade due to growing worldwide demand for their copper, iron ore, meat and soy. However, the region can anticipate a slowdown as the world continues to recover from recent economic crises and as growth subsides in China, their main market. Regional...

Dubai Housing Costs Soar

Matt Smith and Praveen Menon October 3, 2014
Immigrant labor has helped build the skyscrapers and infrastructure in the desert city of Dubai, but home prices have skyrocketed to Manhattan-like levels since 2008, forcing many residents to move out of the city. According to the Mercer cost of living survey, Dubai jumped 23 spots on the most expensive cities list this year, landing at number 67. In the first half of 2014 alone, home prices...

As Latin American Economic Growth Slows, Regional Economies Are at a Crossroads

Mimi Whitefield June 20, 2014
Latin America had a long spell of economic growth, 5.9 percent, and a so-called “golden decade” due to bubbles, loose credit and a commodity boom that peaked in 2010. Latin American growth was analyzed at the University of Miami Latin America Symposium, covered by Mimi Whitefield for the Miami Herald. Since 2010, the region’s growth has tapered. Governments now face challenges to maintain...

China Trades Up in Latin America

Jill Richardson June 6, 2014
Since 2000, China has become a strategic economic actor in Latin America, the top trader for Brazil, Chile and Peru. Chinese exports to Latin America have grown in volume and valuation, especially in manufacturing and electronics, but China’s huge influence comes with a cost, including volatility in the commodities markets, reports Jill Richardson for Foreign Policy in Focus. China’s trading...

Emerging Challenges: What's In Store for the New Global Powers

Erich Follath October 23, 2013
The emerging economies are on track to be more influential and work as a united front against the West, notes Erich Follath for Spiegel Online: “For the first time in 150 years, the combined output of the developing world's three leading economies – Brazil, China and India – is about equal to the combined GDP of the longstanding industrial powers of the North[,] Canada, France, Germany,...