In The News

Transcript of Flattening World Challenges Imagination

April 13, 2007
The following is a transcript of Nayan Chanda's interview with Thomas Friedman, author of “The World Is Flat” and foreign-affairs columnist of “The New York Times,” conducted on March 30, 2007. Friedman talks about the latest edition of his bestselling book, provides advice on which categories of jobs can best be protected from outsourcing, and proposes an exit strategy from Iraq for the US...

Flattening World Challenges Imagination

April 13, 2007
Thomas L. Friedman, foreign-affairs columnist of “The New York Times,” whose “The World Is Flat” has become an international bestseller, says the process of flattening is intensifying. With multiplying distributive tools of innovation and collaboration, whatever can be done will be done, Friedman explains in this interview with YaleGlobal Editor Nayan Chanda on March 30, 2007. The question is who...

Lies, Grief and a Ticket Home for Illegal Indian Migrants

Caroline Brothers April 12, 2007
Enduring hardship and abuse, the poor journey toward high paying jobs of Europe. A new route for Asians is through the Middle East to North Africa, then Spain. But the very length of the journey poses great risk: Migrants – many illiterate – risk life savings and remain vulnerable to trickery or attack at any point along the way. Once on their way, the migrants have no choice but to pack onboard...

Stock Market Hiccups No Cause for Worry

Manu Bhaskaran April 5, 2007
Economists debate whether the financial interdependence of the modern world provides insulation against shocks or sets the stage for a chain reaction of woes. Every major power has its financial weak point – immense debt for the US; regional conflicts and poverty for India; and a lack of transparency for China combined with uncertainty over how communist leaders can control a population accruing...

India’s Edge Goes Beyond Outsourcing

Anand Giridharadas April 5, 2007
Developments in transportation and communications technology enable greater globalization of more segments of the labor market. For several decades, manufacturing jobs gradually moved from developed countries to areas with low-cost workers. Now workers in the developing world take on more complex tasks in engineering, finance and pharmacology. Boeing, for instance, relies on Indian-developed...

Turning Globalization on Its Head

April 4, 2007
People who want to join the global economy must do more than learn about it from home. Germany has a shortage of qualified information-technology personnel – and must outsource such jobs to India. As a result, more Germans travel to India for internships and jobs. Likewise, Indian firms are starting businesses in Europe. Germany faces some big hurdles in any attempts to welcome firms and workers...

Pain From Free Trade Spurs Second Thoughts

David Wessel March 30, 2007
Free trade and free movement of labor has long enriched the US, but analysts increasingly point out that neglect of the nation’s science, education and manufacturing base could limit future prosperity. The US public took little notice when unskilled jobs moved overseas – but some economists predict skilled jobs, any that can be accomplished via the internet, will soon follow. Fast-paced...