In The News

Glasgow Becomes First University in Europe to Divest From Fossil Fuels

Libby Brooks October 13, 2014
Glasgow University in Scotland has voted to divest from the fossil fuel industry and is selling its holdings in the sector, worth £18 million, or US $12 million. The decision follows a year of pressure and campaigning from a student organization, the Glasgow University Climate Action Society, part of a broader international university movement. The “Fossil Free” university movement began in the...

Dubai Housing Costs Soar

Matt Smith and Praveen Menon October 3, 2014
Immigrant labor has helped build the skyscrapers and infrastructure in the desert city of Dubai, but home prices have skyrocketed to Manhattan-like levels since 2008, forcing many residents to move out of the city. According to the Mercer cost of living survey, Dubai jumped 23 spots on the most expensive cities list this year, landing at number 67. In the first half of 2014 alone, home prices...

Gloomy Outlook for Ghana Where Gold Does Not Shine Anymore

Vikram Mansharamani October 2, 2014
A country’s fortunes can rise and fall quickly. Ghana was hailed just two years ago as the world’s fastest growing economy, but now struggles with currency devaluation, poor infrastructure and an entrenched bureaucracy, explains Vikram Mansharamani, author, global equity investor and Yale lecturer. Confidence is falling – on stark display after the Ghana World Cup team refused to play without an...

Russia: Friction With the West, New Ties With the East

Laurence Neville September 23, 2014
After stalled reforms, intervention in Ukraine and an alleged role in shooting down a Malaysian passenger jet, Russia has lost international goodwill. So like the United States, Russia is conducting its own pivot to Asia: “Rather than retreating from globalization, Russia, some think, is instead redefining it. Russia is choosing to look east rather than west,” suggests Laurence Neville for Global...

Why Fighting Climate Change May Help the Economy, Not Hurt It

Michael Casey September 19, 2014
A common refrain among those who resist taking action on climate change is that costs and lost jobs from reducing reliance on coal and oil are too high. Studies from the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute, the Center for American Progress and the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate suggest that reducing greenhouse gas emissions could boost economies...

Argentina Default Flashes Warning to Emerging Markets

Will Hickey September 9, 2014
Argentina, among the world’s top 25 economies, is trying to seek relief with bondholders and avoid being locked out of international credit markets. A US judge has sided with a minority of bondholders led by a US billionaire, blocking payments to the 90 percent who agreed to restructuring. For now, despite the judge’s ruling that all or none of the bondholders be paid, Argentina explores debt...

Match Speech With Action

Nayan Chanda September 8, 2014
Political leaders understand what their countries must do to compete in global markets and create sustainable economies over the long term. Education systems must prepare students with a skill set – reading for understanding complicated directions and to conduct research; math, critical thinking and analysis for problem solving of all types; confidence to sell goods or speak out on challenges to...