In The News

The Challenge for the Multilateral Trade System

Guy de Jonquières November 18, 2002
Is multi-lateral trade the only way to pursue globalization? A recent trend to forge regional and bilateral trade agreements has Supachai Panitchpakdi, WTO director-general, arguing that "by discriminating against third countries and creating a complex network of trade regimes, such [bilateral] agreements pose systemic risk to the global trading system." But the US and other countries...

Business Key to Internet Use in Poor Nations

Frances Williams November 18, 2002
Regional and global supply chains need to be linked in order for business-to-business internet commerce to expand. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Unctad, reported that poor countries lack the needed infrastructure and skilled labor to establish and expand the business-to-business sector worldwide. Although Africa and Asia enjoyed internet use growth rates of almost 46%...

Will de Soto’s ideas work in Thailand?

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun November 17, 2002
In the age of almost instantaneous information exchange, ideas can travel around the world with only the click of a mouse. From South America to Southeast Asia, poor people around the world face similar problems. Now Thailand's Prime Minister is considering taking up an anti-poverty scheme developed by the Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto. If his idea proves as effective as it promises...

Malaysian State to Whip 400 Illegal Immigrants

November 15, 2002
After a four-month amnesty has expired for all illegal immigrants in Malaysia, one southern state is beginning to crackdown on stragglers. Over 400 illegal immigrants will be whipped for their failure to depart. These punitive measures have been decried by Indonesia and the Philippines. Yet along with such cruel and unusual punishment, Malaysia also seems to be biting the hand that feeds it....

Al Qaeda’s New Tactics

Peter Bergen November 15, 2002
Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda’s new tactics are both broader in scope and more focused in purpose. Judging by recent attacks, more countries have been placed on Bin Laden’s hit list. The US was previously Al Qaeda’s bulls-eye, but now most of the West is on the dartboard. Although more countries are now fair game, the targets are more specific: the heart of economic well-being. As noted, Bin Laden...

Job Subsidies May Clash with EU Law

Carola Schlagheck November 15, 2002
EU antitrust regulation has placed strict restrictions on government subsidies to private businesses. The German government’s plan to create jobs by financing job placement agencies and temporary employment contracts may contradict EU policy, and infringement proceedings against the country are pending. For the one million Germans who benefit from publicly-subsidized employment, the results of...

The Need for WTO Reform

Vandana Shiva November 12, 2002
Farmers in India suffer from WTO rules. Without import restrictions and tariff barriers, subsistence farmers are forced to compete against subsidized firms that can provide artificially low prices. Meanwhile, costs have increased for farmers as multinationals rush into the market with seeds that require expensive fertilizers. Market access for developing countries and lowering subsidies – two...