In The News

Migrant Power

January 19, 2007
A new World Bank report shows that migration remains a significant force in Eastern Europe and Central Asia almost two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall. While the initial surge of migration in the 1990s was due to ethnic reconsolidation, there has been a growing movement of workers seeking economic opportunity from the region’s poorer nations. According to the report, the remittances...

Market Medicine

Johan Hjertqvist January 16, 2007
The European Union is exploring strategies that would allow patients and clinicians to cross borders and increase savings in health care. The system might also improve quality of care in a system that generally does not rank health-care providers, allow patients to access their own records or pursue second opinions, or provide immediate treatment. “At least four out of five Europeans are denied...

Opening Up the Transatlantic Market

Daniel S. Hamilton January 15, 2007
Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany and president of the G-8, urges a transatlantic free-trade agreement. Except for a few high-profile squabbles, trade barriers between the two continents are already low and the US Senate has already given its approval of such an agreement, note transatlantic analysts Daniel Hamilton and Joseph Quinlan. The authors point out that a US state like Illinois has...

Belarus Cuts Off Russian Oil to Europe

Fred Weir January 9, 2007
After Russia increased the price for oil flowing into Belarus, the former Soviet republic responded by imposing a tax on Russian oil shipped through a pipeline passing between its borders, destined for Europe. When Russia refused to pay the tax, Belarus siphoned off some oil for some compensation. Russia has since closed the pipeline, and nations like Germany and Poland face reduced oil supplies...

5.5M Britons “Opt to Live Abroad”

Dominic Casciani December 26, 2006
If not for immigration, the UK would experience a drop in population, considering about 10 percent of British citizens choose to live abroad. Both young and retired Brits try living overseas, and most are professionals. "Britain is truly at the crossroads of the global movement of people," said Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, a co-author of the report for the Institute of Public Policy...

Europe Is Giving Global Economy a Surprise Boost Amid US Lull

Marcus Walker December 21, 2006
Typically, when the US economy slows, Europe follows. But because of rising exports, Europeans demonstrate a renewed economic confidence, as demonstrated by more jobs, investment and spending. Modest economic growth is spreading throughout the continent known for heavy regulation of labor, trade and investment as well as generous social benefits. With exports leading the growth, European...

Was Spy Murdered in Russian Power Fight?

November 27, 2006
Alexander Litvinenko’s death by radioactive polonium 210 was unusual enough. But the long and agonizing death also gave the former KGB spy time to issue a public accusation against Russian President Vladmir Putin for murder. Litvinenko had been investigating the death of a journalist long critical of the Putin administration. The reach from one country into another for investigations as well as...