In The News

An Interview With Claus Frederiksen

September 26, 2006
The following is a transcript of Nayan Chanda's interview with Danish Minister for Employment Claus Frederiksen, conducted on September 13, 2006. The minister explains Denmark’s “flexicurity” policy, which gives employers flexibility in hiring and firing while offering ample job assistance and re-training to the unemployed. – YaleGlobal

Making Globalization Work

Joseph Stiglitz September 8, 2006
Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel Prize for economics in 2001, complains about unfair trade, excessive debt and poverty, yet still argues that globalization offers enormous potential if managed properly by nations. He compares complaints about globalization to complaints about unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s: If governments had ignored economist John Maynard Keynes’ call...

Managing Globalization: Reducing Inequality – It's Not So Simple

Daniel Altman September 7, 2006
It’s only because of inequalities of wealth or skills that people, products and ideas shift around the globe. Such shifts influence individual communities with increases or decreases in jobs, crime or education – either reducing or exacerbating the inequality. Economists suggest that increased trade should reduce inequality at all income levels. But instead, author Daniel Altman argues, the major...

To Give Children an Edge, Au Pairs From China

Gina Bellafante September 7, 2006
Until 2004, the 20-year old agency called Au Pair in America had received zero requests for Chinese nannies. Since then, it has received 1,400 requests. The increased demand for Mandarin-speaking au pairs is partially attributed to the significant number of US parents who have adopted baby girls from China. The largest driving factor, however, is the assumption that the growing influence of...

Singapore Acts as Haven for Stem Cell Research

Wayne Arnold August 18, 2006
Singapore has a conservative government, with strict rules in many areas – but it bestows ample freedoms and financial incentives for its scientists. As a result, the country has become a magnet for biomedical researchers from around the world. The US, world leader in medical research, presents an uncertain legal environment for stem-cell researchers, by legalizing abortions and fertility...

In Europe, Universities Struggle to Compete and Adapt

Nicole Itano August 18, 2006
Publicly funded European universities can no longer compete with top schools in the US, yet angry students oppose proposals for reform. Increasing unemployment makes entry-level jobs for college graduates scarce. Because of limited funds available for university development, some nations implement fees to improve programs. However, most European students expect free tuition and resent the fees....

Commerce Department Report on Offshore Outsourcing Finally Sees the Light of Day

Richard McCormack August 4, 2006
The US Commerce Department released its 336-page report on offshore outsourcing of labor in the information-technology job sector, after holding on to the analysis for two years. The report provides a grim projection for future employment prospects of IT workers in the US. Rising pressure for low costs from customers, consultants and financial markets has led to outsourcing of high-level...