In The News

Dream Postponed

Nayan Chanda January 3, 2011
In design and manufacture, aircraft are among the most complex of products. Outsourcing of specialized features can provide efficiencies, but Boeing may have gone too far with the Dreamliner. About 70 percent of Boeing’s aircraft relies on outsourced components, reports Nayan Chanda, YaleGlobal editor, in his regular column for Businessworld, and the aircraft is two years behind schedule. One...

China Extends Help to Tackle Euro Crisis

Jamil Anderlini December 31, 2010
The EU is China’s biggest export market: Trade for 2010 is up by more than 30 percent over 2009 levels. China, not wanting its huge customer base to struggle, purchases European bonds and assists in financial stabilization. “China classifies the composition of its foreign exchange reserves as a state secret and European and US officials say it is often very hard to determine the true scale of...

The American Leak

Thomas L. Friedman December 7, 2010
The steady release of cables, written by US diplomats, demonstrate a convoluted, counterproductive US foreign policy. The US enters alliances with countries that do not share its expressed values, then tries to deny the differences. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman uses cables about Saudi Arabia by way of example, detailing the contradictions that emerge from US reliance on Saudi oil:...

Asking China to Act Like the US

Helene Cooper December 6, 2010
US leaders show little understanding as to why China balks at acting against its own national interests on democracy, currency, trade surpluses, climate change and many other issues, notes Helene Cooper for the New York Times. Complete acquiescence from China on US policies would serve American interests, not necessarily China’s or the world’s. Cooper focuses on the two nations’ responses to...

Let Down by Politics

Nayan Chanda December 6, 2010
When 20 global leaders convened in 2008 to review the unfolding credit crisis, many anticipated a new forum for global cooperation. In meetings since, “the leaders failed to reach an agreement on any of the contentious issues that threatened economic recovery,” writes Nayan Chanda, editor of YaleGlobal, in his regular column for Businessworld. Chanda urges patience, noting “It will take more than...

Nations That Debate Coal Use Export It to Feed China’s Need

Elisabeth Rosenthal December 3, 2010
Pollution from burning coal has no borders. Yet wealthy developed nations that limit construction of coal-fired plants within their borders do not hesitate to ship loads of coal to China and other nations in Asia, reports Elisabeth Rosenthal for the New York Times. The article lists numerous trade deals, and China now uses about half of the coal burned globally, or 3 billion tons. The rush to...

Train Makers Rail Against China's High-Speed Designs

Norihiko Shirouzu December 2, 2010
China does not let the grass grow under its feet in studying and adapting high-value technology, then mastering and distributing the same. Such is the case with the high-speed rails pioneered by Japanese and European firms, with China now supplying similar technology to Saudi Arabia, the US and Brazil. Foreign makers of any product eye China’s massive market, but can expect competition to emerge...