In The News

U.S. Payrolls Change Lives in Bangalore

SARITHA RAI February 22, 2004
As more and more Indian youths pour into the country's big cities like Bangalore to find jobs outsourced from the developed world, they are earning more and are becoming increasingly influenced by western culture. With 54% of country's population under the age of 25, says this article, the gradual cultural change of this generation is likely to lead changes to the larger Indian society...

Meet the Zippies

Thomas L. Friedman February 22, 2004
Wearing clothes other than the traditional Indian outfits, India's youth of today have become the first generation in the country to welcome global trade and the western jobs that come with it "with a zip in the stride." In this column in the New York Times, Thomas Friedman shows us the "zippies" phenomenon in India's many big cities like Bangalore. With 54% of the...

Staring Into the Mouth of the Trade Deficit

Elizabeth Becker February 21, 2004
Five years ago, the Northwestern city of Seattle made news when anti-globalization protests shut down a meeting of the World Trade Organization. Now, the city is back in the center of a national storm over trade imbalances and job loss. Seattle, the most trade-dependent city in the United States, earns more per capita from trade than any other area in the country. Yet with the US trade deficit at...

Edwards Notes Differences on Issue of World Trade

Katherine Q. Seelye February 20, 2004
As the race for the US Democratic Party's presidential nomination narrows down to just two candidates – Senators John Edwards and John Kerry – a significant change in strategy is underway. Both candidates, clearly capitalizing on public sentiment stemming from the loss of US jobs to overseas competition, are attacking international trade agreements and generally siding with US labor leaders...

Argentina Stuck on the Periphery of a Globalized World

Jean-Pierre Lehmann February 20, 2004
Although once renowned for its prosperity and rich culture, Argentina has seen its fortunes decline as it suffered authoritarian rulers throughout the 20th century. Democratic strides in the 1980s and 1990s did not bring success, either - the "liberal" leaders of those two decades implemented free-market policies that many blame for Argentina's current economic woes. Yet...

Europe Can No Longer Rely on Immigrant Workers

Jonathan Power February 19, 2004
Europe needs to realize that immigrant workers alone will not solve the problem of an aging population, says the author of this article. One country, Sweden, has already made this realization and has increased the retirement age to 67. But given Sweden's long-term demographic changes, analysts have estimated that the retirement age could go as high as 79. An aging population, however, is...

GE Taps a World of Local Skills

Peter Marsh February 18, 2004
American industrial giant General Electric is following it competitors in setting up research centers around the globe. Like Siemens, Philips, and IBM, GE has recognized the importance of tapping into researchers and technological disciplines beyond its home country's borders. The company's new European research center will soon be set up in Germany to the tune of $52 million. GE...