In The News

Trouble for Palm Oil

January 14, 2010
Once thought unhealthy and a contributor to deforestation, palm plantations meant to produce vegetable oil have long faced many critics. Though the health concerns have been dispelled, worries over deforestation remain. Unilever, one of the largest consumers of palm oil, has withdrawn a contract with a large Indonesian producer precisely over concerns that palm plantations are destroying the rain...

Laos Steps into the Globalized World

Bertil Lintner December 15, 2009
Laos’ hosting of the Southeast Asian Games is in some way a metaphor for the country’s entrance into the globalized world. And Laos has crossed that threshold holding China’s hand, according to journalist Bertil Lintner. As a land-locked country, Laos decided to become “land-linked” to China. In other words, the constraints of geo-politics meant Vientiane had two choices: wallow in isolation or...

Deglobalization

Daniel Gross December 14, 2009
As the world economic crisis unfolded, it revealed globalization’s most vulnerable element: trade. Though shrinking for the first time since World War II, world economic growth dipped only slightly compared with the precipitous drop in world trade. In response, state governments and international businesses began rethinking the supposed efficiency of globalization. Businesses are moving toward...

Is a US Brain Drain on the Horizon?

Vivek Wadhwa December 8, 2009
While a second Great Depression may have been averted, the unintended consequences of the Great Recession are just beginning to be felt. One such effect is reverse migration. As noted immigration researcher Vivek Wadhwa reveals, many foreign-born workers in high-tech industries are returning home or contemplating such a return. The reasons for this are many, including better economic prospects or...

China ”Wants to Set Up Factories in Africa”

Tania Branigan December 7, 2009
China’s relationship with Africa has been criticized as one focused solely on procuring natural resources. But Beijing is trying to improve this image by potentially moving lower-value manufacturing facilities to sub-Saharan Africa in possible partnership with the World Bank. In the process, this step may help African states develop a manufacturing base and improve their economies. But Africa...

Mexico Tightens Security at U.S. Border Crossings

Richard Marosi December 3, 2009
The United States has always imposed stringent checks at its Mexican border, but now Mexico is responding with increased oversight of its own, especially at the heavily-trafficked crossing at Tijuana. Mexican president Felipe Calderon says the move is necessary, given the drug violence in northern Mexico thought to be committed with guns purchased in the United States. But business and local...

The Bonds Of Debt

Nayan Chanda November 24, 2009
President Obama’s first visit to China has understandably drawn wide attention. Observers have scrutinized the visit – from the symbolic town hall meeting to the unprecedentedly detailed Joint Statement – trying to gauge the extent of cooperation between the two countries. On the face of it, China clearly enjoys some advantage over the US. It is the largest foreign creditor to the US and is...