In The News

Japan in a Post 3/11 World – Part II

John Berthelsen October 7, 2011
Disasters present new beginning and perspectives with the need to build anew. Whether vowing to rebuild and replicate or relocate, those reviving Japan will strive for security and improvements. This YaleGlobal series explores the transformative effects of spring’s earthquake-tsunami on Japanese politics, energy policy and business. The disaster has prompted Japanese manufacturers to scout Asia...

Will Asia Save Global Capitalism?

Pepe Escobar October 6, 2011
Companies of the West collaborated and profited from the rise of Asian economies: The ascent of neoliberalism lifted, then disappointed the West’s middle classes; the rapid rise of the middle class in China, India and elsewhere may give capitalism but a temporary reprieve, argues Pepe Escobar in an essay for Al Jazeera. Global inequities clash with shared aspirations that are unsustainable...

With Growing Confidence, India Pursues Mergers Abroad

Vikas Bajaj October 6, 2011
With India removing protectionist shackles, its businesses are no longer content with large market shares in the country and now seek a global reach, reports Vikas Bajaj in a blog for the New York Times. In the last year and a half, Indian companies have spent more money on outbound mergers and acquisitions than foreign companies have spent on Indian deals, according to one accounting firm....

Chinese Policies Put Squeeze on the Banks

Steven M. Davidoff October 5, 2011
Whether US investment banks and private-equity firms can continue global financial domination depends on their success in Asia, particularly China, contends Steven M. Davidoff in the New York Times. Globalization was historically good for Wall Street’s financial firms, but now to prosper they must pursue business in Asia. He identifies a major shortcoming for US firms – not competing “at all for...

Revolution Is Happening in the USA

Ismail Salami October 4, 2011
The Occupy Wall Street movement is hardly a revolution, and rather, the protest movement aims at influencing democratic leaders. Started by small groups of college students, protesters express concern about the dangers of high student debt, excessive corporate profits, family struggles with home foreclosures, widening inequality, environmental degradation all combined with a disturbing lack of...

How to Stop a Second Great Depression

George Soros September 30, 2011
Confidence in the global economy is slipping, as wealthy nations fail to control debt and prevent growing fears over defaults and government bonds once assumed to be safe. In an essay for the Financial Times, financier and philanthropist George Soros urges three bold steps for Europe to allow orderly default by Greece, if necessary, and keep the global markets calm: create a common treasury for...

The Four Horsemen of Economics

Stewart Wallis September 28, 2011
Humans are not necessarily stuck with the unsustainable, unstable economic constructs they have created. Political systems can shape local and global economies, either deliberately or by default. Stewart Wallis, executive director of the New Economics Foundation, urges nations to work in concert to address crises that promise to arise with greater frequency and severity – whether extreme weather...