In The News

The Europeanization of America

Mark Leonard February 26, 2013
The United States and Europe each are coping with heavy debt and the prospect of decline, argues Mark Leonard, co-founder and director of the European Council for Foreign Relations. Polarized electorates and clumsy austerity programs add to uncertainty and compound economic woes. Leonard suggests that the Obama administration admires the Germany economy and pursues policies of “energy...

The Route of the Problem

Nayan Chanda February 25, 2013
The pace of growth for India is slowing. With a young workforce and high technological skills, the country shows promise. But it must “clean up the governmental morass and think holistically about what needs to be done to take advantage of its global connections and promote sustainable growth,” argues Nayan Chanda in his column for Businessworld. Strong growth and prosperity require reliable...

Horsing Around the Global Food Chain

Nayan Chanda February 18, 2013
Regulators in Britain tested the DNA of meat in packaged lasagnas, labeled as beef, and discovered some containing more than half horsemeat. Fast, convenient, affordable frozen and processed meals – often marketed to the poorest consumers – have complex supply chains with many subcontractors for the many ingredients, explains Nayan Chanda, YaleGlobal’s editor. Intense competition and lingering...

Romanian Abattoir Defends Horsemeat Trade

Neil Buckley February 14, 2013
The most astute and health-conscious consumers will scrutinize ingredients, wary about substitutes that reduce costs and quality. A labeling mix-up or lack of transparency ingredients can reduce trust among trading partners and customers alike. Reports that horsemeat was included in processed lasagna meals sold in France, Britain and other countries in Europe have outraged consumers. For many in...

The Hidden Global Trade in Water

Jenny Kehl February 13, 2013
Water seems plentiful, but less than 3 percent of the Earth’s supply is fresh water, much of it polar ice. Agriculture represents about 70 percent of the globe’s annual water use. Exporting water-intensive crops like cotton produced in arid nations is essentially trading an essential resource away, resulting in net losses for water-scarce nations. Subsidies for water and agriculture, cross-border...

Parts for F-35 Would Evade Export Ban

Kyodo February 12, 2013
Japan is a global technology leader, yet has banned export of parts that might contribute to aggravation of international conflicts. Exceptions to bans in place since 1967 and 1976 have been made for the United States, an ally, and to allow Japan to participate in joint-weapons development for humanitarian purposes and promotion of international peace, reports Kyodo, the nonprofit cooperative...

Under China’s Shadow, India Looks to Australia

Ashok Malik February 8, 2013
Australia and India are large democracies and former colonies of Britain, but the Cold War interfered with a close relationship for much of the 20th century as India drifted closer to the Soviet Union. Now, as China expands influence and the US pivots to Asia, India may be warming to the concept of an Indo-Pacific region – sharing strategy with neighbor Australia on matters of trade, security and...