In The News

Of Flying Geese and Sitting Ducks: Brazil Stares, East Asia Takes Off…

Marcos Jank May 17, 2005
While East Asian countries steadily continue their economic development, Latin American nations still trail in achieving sustainable growth. The difference, according to this InfoBrazil commentary, can be attributed to the diverging economic policies of the two regions. Since the 1980s, East Asia has sought to attain global competitiveness by prioritizing exports, outsourcing labor-intensive...

Argentina or the "Principles"?

Ernesto Zedillo May 10, 2005
Financial instability in emerging market countries has been a major concern for the international financial system. Argentina's debt crisis, during which the country's entire financial sector collapsed, triggered serious discussions on how to improve the world's response mechanisms in times of crises. After several years of negotiation and consultation, an association of private...

Burying China's Complicity in the Killing Fields

Jehangir S. Pocha May 5, 2005
Only weeks ago, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao uttered the now famous words, "Japan needs to face up to history squarely." China has adamantly demanded that Japan come clean about its past war indiscretions, an issue that has provoked lively public debate. At the same time, Beijing has remained mum regarding its support for Cambodia's Khmer Rouge in the mid- to late-1970s. Today,...

Rising Dragon and the American Eagle – Part I

David Shambaugh April 20, 2005
Recent developments – including the high-profile visit by China's premier Wen Jiabao to South Asia – showing the rising profile of China have intensified a long-running debate in Washington. How does the growing power and influence of China affect the dominance that the United States has so far enjoyed in Asia? In the first of our two-part series, George Washington University's China...

China Can Gain from Unshackling its Currency

Rob Trudel April 8, 2005
A significant lobby in Washington is pressuring Beijing to revalue its currency relative to the US dollar, claiming that the artificially low renminbi gives China an unfair competitive advantage. To be sure, Chinese resent the pressure and worry that an appreciation of the renminbi relative to the dollar would raise the price of Chinese goods and curb its dominance of the export market. But in...

International Bodies, Government Seek Ways to Deter Corruption in Aid

Tony Hotland April 7, 2005
Newspapers are reporting that the Indonesian government may have used tsunami relief money to purchase an eight million dollar villa for their ambassador to Switzerland. The report has prompted an uproar from Indonesians and international donors, who fear further misuse of relief money. Given the scope of reconstruction projects, say donors, well-connected officials in any affected country could...

Curry in Hot Garlic Sauce

Simon Long March 31, 2005
China, the world's most populous country, looks set to become one of the 21st century's main movers and shakers. Analysts speak in less glowing terms about China's neighbor and budding rival, India. The subcontinental giant has years of catch-up to play to match China's startlingly rapid rise. Yet Simon Long argues that despite its delayed entrance into the free-market game,...