In The News

Managing Globalization: Selling Globally, Pitching Locally

Daniel Altman June 16, 2006
Critics of globalization claim that the domination of global brands such as Coca-Cola and Nike has squashed local business and culture. Multinational corporations, however, find it more effective to play on local cultures in advertising their products. Technology allows advertisers to create more than 200 separate ads – changing colors of a flag or language of a greeting with a touch of a button...

Growing in India: Food for the World

Anand Giridharadas June 14, 2006
While India is the world’s second-largest grower of fruits and vegetables, it accounts for only 1 percent of the world’s exports of such products. Furthermore, nearly two thirds of India’s population lives in rural villages where millions struggle to grow enough to feed their families. Given the country’s tropical climate and natural resources, not to mention the explosive success of IT growth...

Managing Globalization: How Diversification Can Act as a Hedge

Daniel Altman May 18, 2006
Bolivia’s steps to resume control of its natural gas industry from foreign multinational companies have not led to a drop in stock prices. Like the investors who protect portfolios with diverse investments, multinational firms rely on globalization and diverse geographic regions to protect their bottom-line profits. Of course, energy firms face limitations when it comes to diversifying based on...

Managing Globalization: Old Tax Breaks Fade in New World

Daniel Altman May 17, 2006
Businesses that open subsidiaries solely to reduce tax liabilities may want to think twice before relocating to China or India. Taxation has become more complicated as more firms go multinational and countries welcome more foreign firms. But governments continue to impose and enforce taxation, reports author Daniel Altman. Tax evasion and underreporting are challenges for China. Both China and...

New Globalization Battle Threatens Asia

Joergen Oerstroem Moeller April 26, 2006
The world today must confront a new economic policy conundrum: national governments doubting the benefits of cross-border mergers and acquisitions on the one hand, and the forces of economic globalization driving such partnerships on the other. The battle, already waged in Europe and the US, has now migrated to Asia. As global industry restructures, three major factors frame the conflict over...

Globalization Old and New

Ullrich Fichtner April 20, 2006
Globalization comes in many forms, some more pleasing than others. As Vietnam eagerly pushes for incorporation into the WTO, it could discover that globalization becomes colonization, “Part Two.” Hanoi emerged from European influence with its dignity intact, according to author Ullrich Fichtner, but new and rapid development could transform the city’s charm, with small shops featuring gourmet...

Poland Averts Clash With Europe Over Italian Bank Deal

Mark Landler April 18, 2006
The Polish government has agreed to allow the Italian bank UniCredito to go forward with a deal to acquire two of Poland’s own banks. In return, UniCredito will sell nearly half of its new Polish bank branches, preserve and put out for bid a leading Polish bank brand name, and guarantee jobs for at least two years to its new Polish employees. Without these conditions, the deal would have...