In The News

Financial Times: Global Recycling Crisis

Leslie Hook and John Reed October 26, 2018
Increases in online shopping combined with China’s ban on many plastic and other waste imports as of this year disrupted the global recycling industry, increasing costs and leaving piles of trash in communities and ports. The $200 billion industry processes more than 270 million tons of waste each year into new products – clothing, construction materials and more as described in a 2016 YaleGlobal...

Project Syndicate: The Blockchain Lie

Nouriel Roubini October 25, 2018
The bubble has burst for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and economist Nouriel Roubini argues that such techno-currencies and the related blockchain distributed ledger software are over-hyped and not useful. He insists that investors find more security holding real money widely recognized by governments. “In practice, blockchain is nothing more than a glorified spreadsheet,” Roubini writes...

Reuters: “Existential Crisis” at WTO

Tom Miles October 24, 2018
The World Trade Organization plans reforms after the United States has blocked appointments and threatened withdrawal. “At stake is the effectiveness - even the survival - of a key stabilizing force in the global economy,” reports Tom Miles for Reuters. “Since its founding in 1995, the WTO has stopped governments from arbitrarily raising trade barriers and disrupting the flow of goods.” The WTO...

New York Times: Kenyans Say Chinese Investment Brings Racism

Joseph Goldstein October 22, 2018
A 26-year-old Kenyan working for a Chinese motorcycle company in Ruiru recorded a viral video of his Chinese manager airing frustration after a business deal had gone awry, comparing Kenyans to monkies. After the video drew widespread condemnation, Liu was deported back to China. Such incidents are not a rare occurrence. “Today, many younger Kenyans say that racism is a phenomenon they largely...

AP: World’s Largest Legal Marijuana Marketplace

Rob Gillies and Gene Johnson October 17, 2018
Sales of legal recreational marijuana became legal in Canada as of October 17, the second country after Uruguay, and long lines and a celebratory spirt greeted the new product. An announcement is planned on pardoning those with previous convictions for possessing small amounts. Legal retail and online sales will contribute to tax revenues. “Canada has had legal medical marijuana since 2001 and...

Caixin: “Competitive Neutrality” for China’s SEOs

Zhang Chunlin October 17, 2018
Some of China’s trade partners accuse the country of unfairly subsidizing its state-owned enterprises, and this is part of the reason the United States has imposed tariffs on many Chinese goods. Zhang Chunlin of the World Bank proposes competitive neutrality, a principle advocated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development: restricting SOES from using state tools to increase...

Brookings: 5 Things to Known About the New NAFTA

Geoffrey Gertz October 15, 2018
In a Brookings blog post, Geoffrey Gertz picks out five salient facts about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. The trade deal replaces the North America Free Trade Agreement, and while it will be officially signed by the three heads of state on December 1, it will only become law after each country’s legislative branch grants approval. Despite US President Donald Trump’s claim...