In The News

Do US Deficits Threaten Global Financial Stability?

Hilton Root October 13, 2004
Many of the world's leading economists have issued dire warnings that US deficit spending is dangerous not only to its domestic economy - but may actually knock the entire global economy off kilter. Economist Hilton Root suggests that such concerns may be overinflated, if not misdirected. The relative stability of US social and political institutions - in spite of the cavernous deficit -...

France Looks to Strengthen Economic Ties with China

Frank Ching October 13, 2004
China continues to flex its economic muscles, reaping the benefits of international and intra-EU competition for influence. French President Jacques Chirac's recent official visit to China resulted in US$4 billion worth of industrial orders, as well as hints of further political cooperation in the future. Economic and political relationships between France and China are particularly...

Central Asia: Corruption, Lack of Vision Seen as Stunting Economic Growth

Andrew Tully October 11, 2004
Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Central Asia has remained solidly in the hinterland of economic globalization. The region has seen little of the boom experienced by its behemoth neighbors India and China. A recent forum, "Central Asia in the Global Economy," brought together government officials and representatives of the business world to discuss...

In Washington's Good Books?

Khaled Dawoud October 8, 2004
Syria's porous border with Iraq, continuing presence in Lebanon, and harboring of Palestinian groups have all poisoned US-Syrian relations. A recent visit to Damascus by US Assistant Secretary of State Willam Burns may have led to a breakthrough in several diplomatic impasses. "Certainly the dialogue between the US and Syria is a more serious dialogue than we've had in quite a...

Spread of 'Preemptive-ism' and Indonesia Sovereignty

Mohamad Mova Al Afghani October 7, 2004
Standing upon the precedent of US president George W. Bush, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has also claimed the right of his country to prevent terrorist attacks with preemptive strikes. In this op-ed from neighboring country Indonesia and likely home of many of the “terrorist bases” Howard wishes to target, the writer argues that the “doctrine” of preemption is not widely accepted in the...

The New Yellow Peril

Oliver Cattaneo October 6, 2004
Responding to public fears about job loss, the French government recently announced new measures to prevent the outsourcing of domestic production. Opponents of offshoring, however, overstate its harmful effects, argues French trade specialist Olivier Cattaneo. For instance, in the United States – where outsourcing has become a potent political issue – the trade surplus in information services...

Patriot Qualms

Paula R. Newberg October 6, 2004
The repercussions of the 2001 US Patriot Act are especially damaging to foreign aid and humanitarian relief. Provisions aiming to undercut terrorist funding have contributed to greater woes for organizations seeking financial backing. Washington-mandated bureaucratic gymnastics have rendered humanitarianism "a logistics nightmare," according to Brookings Institution scholar Paula R....