In The News

Globalization: Custom-Made in China

Fan Gang October 15, 2004
The rapid pace of China’s economic growth has been remarkable, but the country’s success did not magically result from opening to the world, writes economist Fan Gang. China’s experience shows that countries must plot their own individualized paths towards market liberalization. Early in its development, China protected its infant industries from the rigors of global competition – thus allowing...

¿Amenaza el déficit estadounidense la estabilidad financiera mundial?

Hilton Root October 15, 2004

"Suitcase Without A Handle": Brazil's Expression, Mercosur's Fate?

Marcos Jank October 14, 2004
Latin American trade alliance Mercosur, the world's fourth-largest economic entity (trailing the EU, the United States and Japan), may be facing an existential crisis. According to this analysis from InfoBrazil, a stalemate between major players Argentina and Brazil has stalled Mercosur’s progress. Argentina's isolationist tendencies present a fundamental incompatibility with the goal...

Do US Deficits Threaten Global Financial Stability?

Hilton Root October 13, 2004
Many of the world's leading economists have issued dire warnings that US deficit spending is dangerous not only to its domestic economy - but may actually knock the entire global economy off kilter. Economist Hilton Root suggests that such concerns may be overinflated, if not misdirected. The relative stability of US social and political institutions - in spite of the cavernous deficit -...

France Looks to Strengthen Economic Ties with China

Frank Ching October 13, 2004
China continues to flex its economic muscles, reaping the benefits of international and intra-EU competition for influence. French President Jacques Chirac's recent official visit to China resulted in US$4 billion worth of industrial orders, as well as hints of further political cooperation in the future. Economic and political relationships between France and China are particularly...

Central Asia: Corruption, Lack of Vision Seen as Stunting Economic Growth

Andrew Tully October 11, 2004
Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Central Asia has remained solidly in the hinterland of economic globalization. The region has seen little of the boom experienced by its behemoth neighbors India and China. A recent forum, "Central Asia in the Global Economy," brought together government officials and representatives of the business world to discuss...

G-Force

October 11, 2004
Building on the creation of the G7, several countries have conspired to establish their own G-titled alliances. Although G7 still dominates policy in international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, these "alphanumeric bodies" have largely ceased to have meaning. Perennial problems, such as the perpetual pegging of the Chinese yuan to the...