In The News

Crazy Campaign Ends With Upset, and Hard Work of Governing Begins

David Dapice November 10, 2016
US voters elected Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, and globalization was pummeled. The United States is deeply divided over policies on trade, immigration and alliances for financial, environmental and national security. Democracy was tarnished, too as some politicians threaten US governance by refusing to compromise. Economist David Dapice reviews the many challenges...

Belgium Walloons Block Key EU Ceta Trade Deal with Canada

October 24, 2016
Negotiating trade deals and satisfying special interests are never easy. A region in Belgium blocked agreement on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and Europe. Other EU members were ready sign the agreement that has been in the works since 2009. “Wallonia, a staunchly socialist region of 3.6 million people, has led objections to the deal, demanding stronger safeguards...

Unlike the West, India and China Embrace Globalization

Bruce Stokes October 18, 2016
Globalization has won fans in India and China, where economic growth is projected to rise by 7.6 and 6.6 percent, respectively. “Indians and Chinese also express pride in their respective nation’s growing stature on the world stage,” explains Bruce Stokes, director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center, in reporting on responses to the Pew 2016 Global Attitudes Survey. “In all,...

World Bank Admits Some Have Lost Out From Free Trade

Kamal Ahmed October 12, 2016
The benefits of globalization and trade are not spread evenly, suggests a World Bank internal document reported on by BBC News. “Jim Kim, the head of the World Bank, told the BBC that he understood why people were angry in advanced economies despite the fact that free trade was one of the ‘most powerful’ drivers of growth and prosperity,” reports Kamal Ahmed for BBC. “Kim said that 20% of jobs...

Chinese Billionaire Makes Aggressive Moves in Hollywood

Ryan Faughnder and David Pierson October 5, 2016
The Dalian Wanda Group could be intent on learning the arts of soft power. After the Chinese conglomerate purchased a Hollywood production company and a large movie theater chain for a combined $6 billion, 16 members of US Congress urged the comptroller general to consider if new standards should be applied to similar foreign acquisitions. The September 15 letter raises the possibility of Chinese...

Tens of Thousands Protest in Europe Against Atlantic Free Trade Deals

Michael Nienaber September 28, 2016
Thousands of people across Europe have marched in protest of free-trade agreements promoted by the European Union with Canada and the United States. Activists caution that the proposed deals – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States and the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement with Canada – could reduce environmental standards and protections for workers. But...

US Presidential Debate Stirs Worries in Asia

September 27, 2016
The outcome of the US presidential election could shift global fortunes, and the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump revealed sharp contrasts. “Mr. Trump has drawn attention for challenges to the Asia security and trade architecture that has girded U.S. alliances with Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines for decades and more recently acted as a hedge against China’s...