In The News

Wave Goodbye to the Invisible Hand

Steven Pearlstein August 4, 2008
An economic era centered around globalization could be fading away, argues columnist Steven Pearlstein for the Washington Post. Developing nations will continue benefiting from trade agreements, albeit without the frenetic fast growth, while developed nations will see fewer cost savings based on low wages in far-off lands. “It is not the protectionists of the AFL-CIO or CNN who are primarily to...

Shipping Costs Start to Crimp Globalization

Larry Rohter August 4, 2008
Manufacturers increasingly sought a competitive edge by subcontracting out work for all manner of parts, from batteries to textiles, to countries with the lowest wages. But that strategy was viable only with low energy costs. Companies trying to keep costs low will move more operations closer to markets to reduce fuel costs, especially for bulky or perishable items like food. “Globe-spanning...

Neo-Nazis Using Web Sites to Threaten Opponents

Guido Kleinhubbert August 1, 2008
Neo-Nazis use the internet to their advantage. To intimidate left-leaning politicians and activists, the Nazis publish names, family information, photos and threats. Followers then use that information to damage cars, fire shots near politician’s homes or deface property. Germany tightly restricts Nazi symbols, but has discovered that it’s near impossible to stop the practice of using the...

7-Square-Mile Ice Sheet Breaks Loose in Canada

August 1, 2008
A seven mile long Canadian ice sheet has broken off an ice shelf in the Arctic, which is the largest piece shed by one of Canada's ice shelves since the Ayles shelf broke loose in 2005 from the coast of Ellesmere. Ice shelves, formed by snow and freezing water, are large platforms of thick, ancient sea ice that float on the ocean's surface. Research suggests that the current Arctic...

Bailing Out Economies

Nayan Chanda August 1, 2008
Capital is mobile, seeking profit, and it moves to countries where the returns are higher, with no regard for immobile workers, explains Nayan Chanda in his column for Businessworld. Flush with cash, foreign investors in search of safe havens invested in bonds issued by US government-sponsored mortgage lenders, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. With the bonds not as safe as advertised, the US...

Trade Talks' Failure Weighs on Other Issues

Bob Davis July 31, 2008
The collapse of the Doha trade talks suggest that the motivation for global cooperation is waning. The goal of the Doha round was to eliminate special subsidies and tariffs on agricultural products to boost economies of the world’s poorest nations. WTO rules require that all 153 members reach consensus on such trade decisions. But the emerging economies of China and India looked to protect their...

After 7 Years, Talks on Trade Collapse

Stephen Castle July 30, 2008
In 2001, world leaders set a goal of lifting trade restrictions to improve efficiency and decrease poverty in developing nations – and so the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations began. But over the seven years, the divide between developing and developed nations became more pronounced, and the US, India and China could not agree on measures to protect farmers in developing...