In The News

Wal-Mart Finds That Its Formula Doesn’t Fit Every Culture

Mark Landler August 3, 2006
Wal-Mart executives eventually realized that requiring employees to smile at customers or participate in the “morning Wal-Mart chant” at its German stores did not mesh well with either the staid employees or customers. Differences in corporate and national culture, combined with competition from local discount vendors, hampered success of the giant US retailer, which left Germany after eight...

Japan Makes More Cars Elsewhere

Martin Fackler August 2, 2006
A report released by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association shows that for the first time Japanese car companies manufactured more cars abroad than in Japan during the last fiscal year. The shift to local manufacturing has been a natural result of globalization of the industry, allowing the companies to shield profits from currency changes, reduce shipping costs and appeal to local...

Letter from Britain: Lack of African Dream Lets a Nightmare Prevail

Alan Cowell August 2, 2006
At the 2005 G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, leaders from the world’s most industrialized nations promised increased aid for the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, while African leaders pledged to clean up corruption in government – kicking off the “Make Poverty History” campaign with high hopes. A year later, donor nations have not followed through on their promises, and some charge that...

Managing Globalization: Why Trade Talks Do Little for the Poorer Countries

Daniel Altman July 31, 2006
With failure of the Doha Round talks, many ask whether free trade really benefits developing countries. Two studies suggest no, though each differ on the root cause of such a global dilemma, according to “International Herald Tribune” columnist Daniel Altman, and that reveals the complexities of trade. Sandra Polaski of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argues that lowering tariffs...

US Shares Blame for Trade Talk Collapse

Lael Brainard July 28, 2006
An unsatisfactory end to the Doha Round of trade talks also signals the end of a US policy of “competitive liberalization,” writes economist Lael Brainard. Until now, this policy included pursuing bilateral and regional trade agreements with the hope of unlocking worldwide multilateral negotiations. The failure of Doha, with midterm elections approaching in the US, makes it unlikely that...

Pascal Lamy: What Now Trade Ministers?

Pascal Lamy July 27, 2006
The stalemate in the Doha Round could yet be overcome, suggests Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization. Disputes over subsidies for agriculture and rich nations stalled the trade agreement. According to Lamy, the strongest advocates for slashing subsidies balk at opening markets and vice versa. As a result, poor nations will feel the brunt of unequal trade policies. As a...

US Cuts in Africa Aid Said to Hurt War on Terror

Mark Mazzetti July 27, 2006
The US government has ended military aid for several African countries with governments that refused to sign an “Article 98 agreement” that exempts American soldiers from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The 2002 “American Servicemembers’ Protection Act” is a keystone of US opposition to the ICC, but the aid cutoffs have angered some military officials who say that...