In The News

From General to Government Motors: Can GM Return to its Former Glory?

William J. Holstein June 25, 2009
The tale of General Motors may provide the inspiration for many a business parable. But according to author William J. Holstein, GM’s downfall started in the 1980s when the company failed to view as credible the threat of Japanese automakers and the tectonic shift in auto production to lean manufacturing. Couple this with outsized medical benefits for current and retired employees and a...

Immigrants Become Hostages As Gangs Prey On Mexicans

Joel Millman June 12, 2009
The September 11 attacks and tough economic times have created new twists on labor smuggling. As a result of 9/11, authorities have cracked down on illegal border crossings between the US and Mexico. The higher cost and risk to sneak across the border attracted larger criminal gangs, driving out the smaller labor smugglers that once facilitated such crossings. But the gangs themselves found that...

Government Motors

Nayan Chanda June 5, 2009
General Motor’s bankruptcy is as much a failure of the company to remain competitive as it is a failure of GM to embrace globalization. Once the industry leader, the auto behemoth was laid low by high labor costs and bad management. But it was perhaps protectionism, a protectionism that did not require GM to adapt to the global market, that ultimately killed the car maker. GM could not compete in...

Stopping the Death Spiral

David Dapice May 26, 2009
US healthcare costs are nearly double that of other developed nations, and are without any attendant benefits: US life expectancy is no greater. Hence, the burden to the government and corporations is clear and reform is needed, according to economist David Dapice. That this burden is growing faster than inflation makes the need for a timely solution even more pressing. As uncontroversial as this...

Declining Immigration Slows Asian, Hispanic Growth

Hope Yen, Thu May May 14, 2009
Prior estimates of when minorities would overtake majorities in the US have been altered thanks to changes in immigration trends. Policies enacted after the Sept. 11 attacks are part of the cause for the change, but analysts surmise that the economic meltdown has had an effect as well. The US may no longer appear to be the land of opportunity for immigrants. Yet, while the inflow of people has...

Hillary Clinton Admits US Role in Mexico Drug Wars

Jo Tuckman March 27, 2009
Mexico is a source as well as major transshipment point for most of the illegal drugs moving into the US – a trade route marked with thousands of cases of torture, murder and ruined lives. Yet American teenagers and college students do not connect their casual use of marijuana and cocaine at lively, secure campus parties with the brutal violence on display throughout Mexico. During a visit to...

Mounting US Debt Burden Threatens Poorer Nations

David Dapice March 2, 2009
US prices ballooned, and then burst. Now the government must borrow heavily once again to stave off an abrupt collapse in values and demand. Such heavy borrowing, 12 percent of the country's GDP this year, depends on the willingness of other countries to buy US debt. But solvent countries and sovereign wealth funds are nervous about their own stockpiles and the health of the global economy:...