In The News

Globalization Requires Safety Net, UN Says

Michael A. Fletcher July 10, 2008
As globalization continues to connect distant places of the globe together, many citizens, even those in wealthy nations, face the consequences of “severe economic swings.” Disturbances in the economy resulting from intense competition come in many forms, including food shortages, rising income inequality or steadily increasing fuel prices. According to separate reports from the United Nations...

The Luckiest Girl

Nicholas D. Kristof July 7, 2008
Beatrice was destined to become another statistic in Africa, a woman without education or much chance of social mobility. But then a goat donated by schoolchildren in Connecticut changed her destiny. Heifer International is a program that encourages church groups and schools to raise funds and donate livestock to the poor in developing nations. A goat reached Beatrice’s village in Uganda, her...

Global Players Herald Change to Business Flow

Robert Weisman July 3, 2008
The US, as the world’s largest economy, carries less influence over other economies of the world. Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) have reported rapid growth in recent years, thanks to innovative firms that have become leading exporters, reports Robert Weisman for the Boston Globe. Business no longer flows from west to east but in multiple directions, argues a team with the Boston...

Indian IT Industry Roots for Barack Obama

Bhargavi Kerur July 1, 2008
Presidential candidate Barack Obama points to the need to fix the American economy and proposes expanding overseas opportunities by outsourcing jobs as a possible solution for a flailing economy. Business is a two-way street, this article from the Daily News & Analysis in India suggests, and nations that outsource work can benefit as much as the nations that receive outsourced work. Plenty of...

Big Issues for the Next President

David Wessel June 30, 2008
The US electorate holds high expectations for the next president – and most center on improving the economy. Yet most voters tend to overlook the multitude of connections that make up the economy, failing to realize how their choices on purchases or activities contribute to daily life and the societies where we live. The US president can provide great leadership by demonstrating such connections...

Interconnected We Prosper

William J. Amelio June 27, 2008
The ranks of the middle class have swelled during the past 15 years, as trade and new connections have lifted millions out of poverty, writes William J. Amelio, chief executive of Lenovo, in an essay for the International Herald Tribune. “Not just goods but information and ideas flow across borders constantly and (for the most part) freely as near universal access to Internet-enabled...

Beijing Lights Up the Night

Dan Levin June 25, 2008
Money and instantly accessible foreign culture fuel Beijing’s vibrant nightlife, where young Chinese adults express themselves via impressive dance moves and access to exclusive nightclubs. Dance, alcohol and music blind patrons to dire poverty confronting most of China’s population. The increasing inequality on display could shatter national instability. Beijing Olympics organizers, intent on...