In The News

Exporting People

Joseph Chamie January 21, 2009
In coming decades, a population rise in developing nations is projected to greatly surpass expected population declines among developed countries. Some developing nations that lack industry and ample jobs forestalled poverty by devising policies that encourage citizens to work abroad. That strategy has helped reduce poverty by bolstering domestic employment, individual skills and foreign exchange...

Lawyers Wanted: Abroad, That Is

John Bringardner December 8, 2008
As a result of a credit crunch, closure of major investment banks and economic recession, many American law firms seek to expand internationally to sustain profits. Previously, lawyers were unwilling to move abroad, but the economy is shifting attitudes, as evidenced by increasing numbers of applicants to law firms abroad, especially in wealthy places like Dubai and Hong Kong. Lawyers anticipate...

India’s Reverse Diaspora

Steven L. Raymer December 5, 2008
Indians still move abroad to work or study, but increasing numbers of restless immigrants are now turning to their ancestral land for opportunity. “By several estimates, between 50,000 and 60,000 information-technology professionals alone have returned to India from overseas since 2003, most to the suburbs of New Delhi, Hyderabad and especially Bangalore, the nexus of what Indians call their...

Lump Together and Like It

November 10, 2008
The statistics on urbanization worldwide are startling – in the past 30 years alone, urban populations have gone from 1.6 to 3.3 billion people, while the next 30 years project additional growth of 2 billion people. The scale and speed of urbanization today is unprecedented in history, with projections of 2 billion slum-dwellers in 2030. Developing countries like Egypt, with more than 18 million...

As China's Losses Mount, Confidence Turns to Fear

Ariana Eunjung Cha November 5, 2008
A global credit crisis has prompted consumers worldwide to slow spending, leading to shuttered factories in China. Leaders of China, like those throughout the world, worry that economic crisis could trigger political instability and demands for change. Growth in the domestic national product, whiles till approaching 10 percent, has been slow by Chinese standards. The government has acted...

Outrage Over Offshoring Goes Off-Target

Ann All October 17, 2008
Offshoring work overseas by US companies is a handy populist issue during a US presidential campaigns. The issue distinguishes the two candidates: Republican John McCain staunchly supports free trade and low taxes; Democrat Barack Obama supports free-trade agreements, but urges tax incentives for companies that keep jobs inside the US. Many US workers bitterly blame the loss of high-skilled...

New Immigration Rules: “A Plan for More Segregation”

Ferda Ataman October 17, 2008
The 27 nations of the European Union formally approved an immigration policy designed to crack down on illegal immigrants but attract qualified guest workers. Europe, hoping to boost flailing public pension programs, seeks a greater share of talented immigrants who now head for the US, Australia or Canada. Only 5 percent now head to Europe, and priority will be given to talented workers who...