In The News

Exploiting Thailand’s Burmese Refugees

Jürgen Kremb November 12, 2007
The recent pro-democracy protests in Myanmar’s major cities overshadow the ongoing civil war raging near the border. Forcible conscription and the devastation of war have prompted an influx of refugees into neighboring Thailand. These illegal immigrants face formidable challenges, including corrupt police, unemployment and organized crime. Because of their illegal status, they cannot secure work...

A Villain to Our Rescue

Robert J. Samuelson November 9, 2007
Politicians, activists and even some business executives in the West blame globalization for a lot of problems. But the US has benefited from foreign trade. “Contrary to popular opinion, the trade balance (deficit or surplus) barely affects total U.S. employment over long periods,” writes Robert Samuelson for the Washington Post. Some types of foreign competition do hurt some individual workers...

Trade Deal Sparks Fight Over Socks

Ian Swanson November 1, 2007
The US Congress and Department of Commerce are considering raising tariffs on sock imports from Honduras. Passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement in 2005 decreased protections between the US and several Latin American states, and some analysts suggest that factories based in the US will close and move jobs to Honduras, with its low production costs. A Canadian company is taking...

Globalization With Arab Characteristics

Marcus Noland October 17, 2007
A young workforce can be a great economic asset. Yet Arab states, with booming populations, desperately need to increase employment opportunities for young adults. Foreign investment has stagnated, limited to oil and tourism as firms remain wary of weak intellectual property rights and uncertain political transitions. Meanwhile, state-dominated economies have failed to achieve linkages to outside...

Argentina’s Presidential Front-Runner Goes Global

Monte Reel October 16, 2007
The United States is not the only country contemplating the candidacy of a recent president’s wife. In Argentina, first lady and presidential frontrunner Cristina Fernández de Kirchner powers through the final leg of her campaign, largely run outside of Argentina. In the wake of massive economic collapse in 2001, her husband turned his attention inward to address enormous debt and widespread...

Latin America’s Hidden War in Iraq

Kristina Mani October 11, 2007
The mercenary companies operating in Iraq recruit a large number of fighters from Latin America – roughly a third of the estimated 30,000 currently deployed. The region boasts a large number of trained ex-military fighters, and a high level of unemployment makes many willing to accept wages that are a fraction of what American or British elite forces demand. An intense need for soldiers in the...

Let’s Have a Real Debate on Globalization

Matthew J. Slaughter September 28, 2007
Many workers in the US fear that the United Automobile Workers’ strike against General Motors signals that the domestic auto industry is “losing” at globalization. The strike has ended, but some workers urge the federal government to scale back US involvement in international trade, most notably with emerging markets like China. Economist Matthew Slaughter counters that globalization has netted...