In The News

Wen Warns Against Renminbi Pressure

Alan Beattie, Joshua Chaffin, Kevin Brown October 7, 2010
With the world’s largest population and concentration of manufacturing, China cannot revalue the renminbi quickly, contends Wen Jiabao, China’s premier. And pressuring China to do so could lead to global economic “disaster” is his assessment as reported by the Financial Times. Currency revaluation would lead to job loss and social unrest with Chinese firms already operating on narrow profit...

Bangladesh, “Basket Case” No More

Sadanand Dhume October 5, 2010
With the 1947 end of British colonial rule in India, Muslim-majority territories were created as a separate state, broken into East and West Pakistan. The eastern wing, more than 1000 kilometers from the west, pursued autonomy. At the end of a bloody war of resistance backed by Indian independents, Bangladesh emerged in 1971. Since then, the nation has pursued economic development, forswearing...

Asia's Currency Market Shakeup

Philip Bowring September 30, 2010
The economies of Asian nations are growing, but currency coordination throughout the region could provide greater certainty and boost. China is not alone in manipulating currency values, points out Philip Bowring for the Asia Sentinel. With China imposing strict controls on yuan bonds that could raise the value of renminbi, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, have little choice but to try suppressing the...

Chinese Investors Flock to London to Buy Real Estate

Julia Werdigier, Bettina Wassener September 29, 2010
An influx of wealthy Chinese are snapping up high-end London properties. Representing 5 percent of buyers and growing, they are favored by brokers for paying in cash in an effort to evade Chinese capital regulations. To cash in on the influx, brokers hire Mandarin and Cantonese speakers and even open offices in China; some buildings omit the number four, considered unlucky by Chinese. The...

Challenges for a Squabbling Europe – Part II

François Godement September 24, 2010
European Union ideals, along with the euro as common currency, could be a formidable force in the world. But in recent years, members have failed to unite to tackle challenges that have emerged. This YaleGlobal series examines how the lack of direction inhibits their influence. A rising Asia could spur Europe to action, and in the second of two articles, François Godement, senior fellow with the...

Challenges for a Squabbling Europe – Part I

Katinka Barysch September 22, 2010
Even after the devastation of the Second World War, bitterly fought by Europeans, the continent united in rebuilding its economy. Led by Germany and France, Europe steadily embarked on a series of agreements that gradually pooled energy and economic resources, embraced trade, reduced border controls and developed a common currency. Now, as internal challenges combine with external competition,...

Inside the Knockoff-Tennis-Shoe Factory

Nicholas Schmidle September 22, 2010
Putian, China, with its sneaker manufactures, is a global counterfeiting center, sometimes beating the real sneakers to market and shipping everywhere from Italy to New York. Major footwear companies loathe discussing the problem for fear of upsetting Chinese authorities or losing consumer trust over product authenticity. Even authorities have a tough time distinguishing the best fakes from brand...