In The News

Marketing Humanitarian Crises

Clifford Bob February 21, 2006
In an era of human rights accords and global benefit concerts, international tribunals and rubber wristbands for any cause, attention to humanitarian crises seems both pronounced and profuse. Yet, as political scientist Clifford Bob writes, the world has far more crises than what catch the proverbial eye, and he questions why certain “hot zones” receive more attention than others. An entire...

Fuss About China Is Overdone

Guy de Jonquières February 20, 2006
The world has become “mesmerized” by China – hungry for its market and fearful of its increasing strength. In this article, Guy de Jonquières speculates about the possibility of an economic downturn for China and what that might mean for the world at large. Such an event, while unlikely, could emerge with “internally generated upsets” such as a property market crash or social unrest. His argument...

Companies in Emerging Markets Show Clout in Global Deal Game

Jason Singer February 17, 2006
Some critics of globalization think of market liberalization as “neo-colonialism.” Western companies, they claim, reap profits from exploiting cheap labor of the developing world. Yet recent corporate maneuvers suggest that globalization is a far more complex process. Since 2002, companies from emerging markets like India and China have bought up Western competitors with increasing frequency. The...

The Decline and Fall Of Europe

Fareed Zakaria February 16, 2006
In March 2000, EU leaders pledged to make the EU “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-driven economy by 2010.” That goal could be unrealistic. As policymakers debate the rise of Asia and its challenge to the US, Fareed Zakaria, a journalist who specializes in international relations, suggests that the major story of the decade may well be Europe’s economic decline. If current trends...

Wake Up To Old-Fashioned Power of New Oligopolies

Barry Lynn February 15, 2006
While the term “monopoly” is familiar, the related term, “oligopoly” – which refers to control of markets by a handful of major corporations – is less well known. Yet business journalist and author Barry Lynn contends that the citizens and politicians must wake up to the tightening grasp of “global mega-institutions” on the global marketplace. Global oligopolies pose dangers, often associated...

China's Powerhouse Vision for 2050

Jonathan Watts February 13, 2006
China released a report from its leading research institute with an optimistic vision for the nation’s next 50 years. The projections depend on China undergoing a transition from a predominantly agricultural society to a suburban knowledge-based economy – and moving 500 million people closer to the cities. China would also have to maintain a strong growth rate, now at 9 percent. Noting that China...

America Should Open Its Doors Wide to Foreign Talent

Craig Barrett February 1, 2006
Discussion about challenges in America’s immigration policies tends to focus on the millions of illegal immigrants. But the more pressing immigration problem facing the US today, writes Intel chairman Craig Barrett, is the dearth of high-skilled immigrants required to keep the US economy competitive. Due to tighter visa policies and a growth in opportunities elsewhere in the world, foreign...