In The News

How US Policy Responses Are Helping, Hurting and Can Be Improved

Cristina Eguizábal, Karise M. Curtis, Matthew C. Ingram, Aaron Korthuis, Eric L. Olson and Nicholas Phillips January 30, 2015
The unprecedented number of migrants fleeing Central America’s so-called Northern Triangle – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – highlights regional challenges: unparalleled levels of organized crime, gang violence, and corruption – problems all fueling and being fueled by lack of economic opportunity. The public generally assumes that drug trafficking is behind the violence, but rampant...

Pull of Global Economy Increases Latin America-Africa Engagement

Manuel Orozco and Julia Yansura January 26, 2015
Africa and Latin America are opening new trade and diplomatic relations, particularly in four key countries of Brazil, Mexico, Cuba and South Africa. Compared with their exports to the northern hemisphere, the exchange of goods between Latin American and African countries remains small, around 3 percent. However, trade between the two continents grew 75 percent between 2005 and 2012, and new...

After Obama’s Visit, India-US Relations Must Not Be Allowed to Drift Again

Nayan Chanda January 23, 2015
As the world’s two largest democracies, India and the United States have little choice but to endure the minor frictions that test relations and draw fierce public response – for example, the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York City. President Barack Obama is returning to India for his second visit to join the country’s Republic Day celebrations. “The significance of a sitting president...

Obama in India: Time to Get Serious on Common Goals

Vikram Mansharamani January 22, 2015
As the world’s two biggest democracies, India and the United States share many interests on trade, investment and security matters. US President Barack Obama will attend India’s Republic Day celebration on January 26, and many in business and government look forward to a stronger partnership between the two countries on energy, manufacturing and IT. “If Modi and his team can help get India out of...

Welcome To Brazil: The Effect of Immigration on the Country's Economy

Arthur Pinheiro Machado January 9, 2015
Countries benefit by attracting and retaining highly qualified immigrants. New entrepreneurs create business and jobs, and can be key to economic development. Secure emerging economies are particularly attractive, and Brazil has seen a recent inflow of such skilled workers, with temporary immigrant numbers rising 135 percent in the last six years. But as Arthur Pinheiro Machado writes in Forbes...

Drone Patrols on US Border Ineffective, Report Finds

Jack Nicas January 7, 2015
Military-grade drones are too costly and ineffective for US border patrol, suggests a US inspector general report. “Customs and Border Protection has used drones since 2004 to aid investigations and patrol borders,” reports Jack Nicas for the Wall Street Journal. “The Inspector General report estimated the drone program cost $62.5 million in fiscal 2013…. Some independent analysts and the...

Europe’s Cheap Borrowing Costs Lure Corporate Fundraising

Sally Bakewell and Cordell Eddings December 30, 2014
Borrowing costs in Europe have fallen against dollar rates, to near half in some cases, and Bloomberg anticipates US firms to issue more bonds in euros. “Apple Inc. (AAPL), Verizon Communications Inc. and Albemarle Corp. led 68 billion euros ($83 billion) of bond issuance by American borrowers this year, the busiest since 2007 and 45 percent higher than 2013, according to data compiled by...