In The News

A Bolt From the Blue Sea

Nayan Chanda March 31, 2011
Japan is the source of advanced technology for multiple industries. Triple tragedies of an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident – with thousands killed, hundreds of thousands displaced and rolling blackouts – immediately revealed many economic interconnections and the vulnerability of the global supply chain, explains Nayan Chanda, YaleGlobal editor, in his regular column for Businessworld....

Dead Parrot Trade Talks

Jagdish Bhagwati March 29, 2011
Failure to complete the decade-old Doha Round of trade talks would severely weaken the World Trade Organization. An original deadline set for January 2005 has long passed. Jagdish Bhagwati, a leading trade economist, urges setting another deadline: Complete the Doha Round by the end of the year, or consider the talks dead. The round, aiming to reduce trade barriers in agriculture and service...

Li & Fung Warns of End of Cheap China Goods

Rahul Jacob March 28, 2011
The era of low prices – thanks to low-cost labor in China – is over, warns Li & Fung, a Hong Kong product sourcing firm, as reported by the Financial Times. China laborers overall enjoyed a raise of about 20 percent this year, reports Rahul Jacob. Retailers must now decide how much of the extra costs they can pass on to consumers and how much can be taken away from profits. Even as...

China Grabs Latin America, Well Ahead of Obama's Outreach

Andrés Cala March 25, 2011
President Barack Obama’s visit to Latin America highlighted China’s expanding role in the continent. China has signed a series of oil deals with Latin American countries even as the US seeks to meet more of its energy needs in Latin America. The biggest challenge for the US might be a proposed “dry canal” across Colombia that would boost China trade for countries along the Atlantic coast and...

Quinoa’s Global Success Creates Quandary at Home

Simon Romero, Sara Shahriari March 23, 2011
In recent years, quinoa, a traditional Andean crop rich in amino acids and other nutritive properties, has become popular in health-food stores of the developed world. Foreign-aid organizations encouraged Bolivian farmers to take advantage of increased demand and grow more of the crop for export. As prices tripled over the past five years, local farmers earn more and fewer Bolivians immigrate....

Westward Ho: Asians March Into Africa – Part II

Loro Horta March 18, 2011
In terms of natural resources, Africa is one of the richest continents, luring explorers, colonists and investors since the 15th century. Emerging economies, foreign-aid agencies, energy and mining corporations continue that quest today. This two-part YaleGlobal series examines the implications of these engagements for sustainability and sovereignty of the African nations. Mozambique, though not...

Westward Ho: Asians March Into Africa – Part I

Johan Lagerkvist March 16, 2011
New trade routes are taking hold, linking Africa’s rich resources with the industrial needs in Asia and South America, and this two-part YaleGlobal series analyzes the emerging economic, political and security partnerships. The 2008 global economic crisis and slow recovery for the US and Europe have only reinforced the South-South partnerships, shifting trade relations and fueling economic growth...