In The News

Ahmed Rashid September 11, 2006
Extremists continue to demonstrate that they can thwart the technological superiority of the modern world. The radicals may not gain much in the way of territory or even converts to their cause, but they certainly needle world leaders and instigate fear among substantial segments of populations of the most comfortable nations in the world. The guerilla fighters hide among civilians, thus...
Joseph Stiglitz September 8, 2006
Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel Prize for economics in 2001, complains about unfair trade, excessive debt and poverty, yet still argues that globalization offers enormous potential if managed properly by nations. He compares complaints about globalization to complaints about unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s: If governments had ignored economist John Maynard Keynes’ call...
George Monbiot September 7, 2006
The IMF has proposed giving a greater voting percentage to China, Turkey, Mexico and South Korea – all strong and emerging economies. Yet the body of 184 members would remain in control of its strongest members: The US controls 17 percent of the vote; Japan, Germany, the UK and France control 22 percent; while the 80 poorest countries control 10 percent. IMF decisions, most of which require an...
Daniel Altman September 7, 2006
It’s only because of inequalities of wealth or skills that people, products and ideas shift around the globe. Such shifts influence individual communities with increases or decreases in jobs, crime or education – either reducing or exacerbating the inequality. Economists suggest that increased trade should reduce inequality at all income levels. But instead, author Daniel Altman argues, the major...
Gina Bellafante September 7, 2006
Until 2004, the 20-year old agency called Au Pair in America had received zero requests for Chinese nannies. Since then, it has received 1,400 requests. The increased demand for Mandarin-speaking au pairs is partially attributed to the significant number of US parents who have adopted baby girls from China. The largest driving factor, however, is the assumption that the growing influence of...
Robert X. Cringely September 6, 2006
When it comes to technology, businesses and consumers prioritize power over safety. With fierce global competition in the computer and mobile-phone markets, firms move products to market quickly, regardless of risks. Apple Computer and Dell Computer recently recalled lithium-ion batteries, which produced high power, but were also prone to explosions. In the competitive markets, the companies...
Seth Schiesel September 5, 2006
Almost 7 million people around the world join in playing World of Warcraft, an online game that offers true global competition. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, based in California, the game breaks cultural barriers by appealing to a massive global audience and offering an increasing array of languages. In the past, popular interactive games attracted hundreds of thousands of players at most...