In The News

Minilateralism

Moisés Naím July 1, 2009
A multilateral approach is frequently invoked as the way to solve many of the world’s problems. But Moses Naim, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy, argues that traditional multilateralism has failed to resolve the major global problems of the past decade. The most recent example of a successful international accord on a vital issue was the establishment of the World Trade Organization in 1994....

Overseas, Under The Knife

Arnold Milstein, Mark D. Smith, Jerome P. Kassirer June 16, 2009
Relaxing on the beach isn’t the only reason to go abroad these days. Increasingly, Americans are traveling to foreign countries for “medical tourism” – electing to receive hospital treatment in a foreign country. The majority of medical tourists seek lower-cost medical procedures due to poor or no insurance coverage in their home country. But the deep discounts on medical care in foreign...

Stopping the Death Spiral

David Dapice May 26, 2009
US healthcare costs are nearly double that of other developed nations, and are without any attendant benefits: US life expectancy is no greater. Hence, the burden to the government and corporations is clear and reform is needed, according to economist David Dapice. That this burden is growing faster than inflation makes the need for a timely solution even more pressing. As uncontroversial as this...

Reminder From a Five-Year-Old

Anshel Pfeffer May 11, 2009
While Mexico’s swine flu patient zero has recovered fully and is back engaged in what holds many five year olds’ attention – watching television – the process of the flu itself can provide a lesson in globalization. According to the author, international air travel was as much a cause, as a potential cure by transporting doctors and medicine, for the disease. Moreover, the media attention that...

10 Genes, Furiously Evolving

Carl Zimmer May 11, 2009
Viruses, numbering in the hundreds of millions and likely extant for centuries, are unique because of a process by which they cause host cells to produce more viruses. But it is reassortment – a phenomenon in which two viruses infecting the same cell combine to form a new virus – that likely leads to the evolution and proliferation of viruses. As one doctor noted, “Reassortment may be the major...

Swine Flu Provides a Test of Employers’ Crisis Plans

Joe Sharkey May 6, 2009
The corporate response to the swine flu has been well orchestrated and cautious for the most part. This is due mainly to instituting response and risk management plans in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US and the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia. As a result, companies now have tracking and data systems that can pinpoint the locations of their traveling employees and thus...

Swine Flu: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Outbreak

Bryan Walsh April 27, 2009
The World Health Organization recently called the outbreak of swine flu a health emergency of “international concern.” Government responses have been varied with the US noting that none of the cases domestically have been fatal; Europe and Hong Kong urging its citizens to avoid travel to the US and Mexico; and some countries banning pork imports, even though the flu is not communicable through...