In The News

The Iraqi Wild Card in the OPEC Equation

G Panicker April 24, 2003
The prospect of increased Iraqi oil production outside of OPEC is beginning to complicate the cartel’s ability to control and inflate world oil prices. With Saudi Arabia’s swing capacity – enabling the Saudis to control production quantities and prices – threatened by Iraq’s large reserves, some analysts are predicting "the demise of the last commodity cartel.” However, with demand for oil...

If Nike Defends Itself, Is That a Commercial?

Linda Feldmann April 23, 2003
Nike Inc. is the world's largest athletic footwear company. Nike, with its 900 factories in 51 countries and more than 600,000 employees, is currently embroiled in a Supreme Court case in the US. This case stems from a 1998 lawsuit, in which San Francisco activist Marc Kasky charged that Nike had made false statements about sweatshop conditions in its Asian factories. Mr. Kasky asserted...

Indonesia Mulls Euro as Trade Currency

Shoeb Kagda April 22, 2003
With as much as 15% of Bank Indonesia's reserves already held in Euros, the European Union's currency could in future take a dominant role in Indonesia's international trade. A senior government official confirmed that Indonesia was considering making the switch from US dollars to the Euro after the idea was proposed by the country's national oil company. Concerns about a...

Garner’s Challenge

April 22, 2003
Iraq’s post-war administration, led by former American General Jay Garner, faces difficult domestic and international political challenges as Iraq begins to rebuild. In addition to handling immediate problems such as providing basic services and keeping order, the administration must address potential religious conflict between Sunni Muslims and the Shia majority, as well as international...

Sars: A New Threat to Asian Prosperity

Michael Richardson April 21, 2003
Greater openness in tourism and trade, on which much of Asia's recent economic growth has been based, is coming back to haunt countries from South Korea to Thailand. The extent of the economic fall-out from the Sars epidemic is only just becoming apparent, but WHO estimates already place the global costs at $30 billion and rising. With China's true infection numbers still unknown and...

The Perils of Empire

Paul Kennedy April 20, 2003
Historian Paul Kennedy argues that the perception of the United States as the world leader is borne out by its current economic, military and political strength and influence. At this historical juncture, the United States can use its military success in Iraq to push for democratic reforms in Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The United States also aspires to positively affect the conflict between...

U.S. Boycott Being Felt, French Say

Robert J. McCartney April 16, 2003
French exports to the US, totaling almost $30 billion in 2002, may be off quite sharply this year, if the last two months are any indication. A major French industry group says that American imports of French wine are down dramatically, as 'Francophobia' has afflicted Americans unhappy with the France's failure to support the US-led war in Iraq. The boycott of wine and other...