In The News

A More Just Fair Trade Is Needed

H. A. Harry Hendrarto May 14, 2003
The World Fair Trade Day on May 17 highlights sustainable development and the connections between economic production and the environment globally. Free trade has benefited the developed world and contributed to increasing poverty in the developing world, says the author of this article. Countries in Europe and North America have the greatest share of revenues from free trade. International...

Eastern Germany to Stay Aboard EU Subsidy Train

Carola Schlagheck May 9, 2003
Economic integration on a scale the size of Europe is not easily accomplished. A plan to bring in another 10 member states expands the possibilities for regional cooperation, but it has also threatened to harm the economy of the former East Germany. After some deliberation, the European Commission agreed this week to continue subsidizing eastern Germany for the next few years, even though...

America's Broadband Dream is Alive in Korea

Ken Belson May 5, 2003
According to a vision of Internet technology, one would be able to watch television programs, attend training workshops, sing karaoke, shop, and play interactive games – all of it online. Although Internet has changed patterns of consumption and sociality in the US, it has not yet realized its full potential. But that is not to say it has not happened anywhere. South Korea is a remarkable...

Global Finance Firms Plan Huge Jobs Reshuffle

Catherine Ong April 29, 2003
The worldwide improvement in telecommunications that has occurred in the last several years has opened the doors for new business opportunities with significant consequences for the global economic community. Now, with more and more countries offering multinational corporations a prosperous haven by promising cheap and reliable infrastructure and technical support, the largest firms have begun...

A New War Over Iraq

Joshua Chaffin April 27, 2003
Although the dust has barely settled from the fighting in Baghdad, international companies are already lobbying intensely for lucrative contracts to rebuild Iraq. The extent of reconstruction, the risks involved, and the specific roles for local, national and international stakeholders is yet to be determined. The success of the reconstruction efforts also depends on the development of...

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...

With Little Loans, Mexican Women Overcome

Tim Weiner March 19, 2003
Still struggling after decades of failed poverty alleviation schemes and IMF-imposed structural adjustment programs, poor women in some developing countries are finding hope and success in micro-loans. In Mexico, where banks have generally ignored the financial services needs of the poor, microcredit organizations offer poor people loans of a few hundred dollars to start new small businesses....