In The News

Korea Herald: Speculations Rise Over Denuclearization Cost

Choi He-suk June 4, 2018
The cost of disabling nuclear weapons may be small compared to the costs of production, maintenance and upgrades, but that is still high. The process of disarmament could take a decade, according to Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation. Only skilled teams can oversee the process. Security along with political and economic stabilization is required to prevent...

Wall Street Journal: Global Economic Growth Fades

Michael Wursthorn, Daniel Kruger and Ben Eisen June 4, 2018
Economic growth is slowing around the globe, not meeting analysts’ expectations, as indicated by declines in business activity, manufacturing, shipping costs, commodity prices. Protectionist trade policies, transitions associated with Brexit and climate challenges add to challenges. A strengthening dollar and increased trade deficits hamper growth for emerging economies. Still, few analysts...

CBS News: Trump’s Overflowing Trade Plate

Rachel Layne May 31, 2018
Despite US deficits with China, cross-border trade contributes numerous benefits: more total of jobs for each country along with low-cost goods and higher standards of living. With trade boosting economic growth, governments must enact policies that distribute the wealth with a mixture of social services, infrastructure investment and tax reductions. The United States, relying on deficit spending...

Foreign Affairs: How Xi Jinping Views the World

Kevin Rudd May 31, 2018
Chinese President Xi Jinping is prominent among world leaders because of the size and continued growth of the Chinese economy as well as the nation’s military presence, role in development, and regional interests. Writing for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd describes Xi’s interests as seven concentric circles: His primary goal is keeping the Chinese Communist Party in power for the long term, making...

The Guardian: Imprisoned, Threatened, Silenced: Human Rights Workers in Asia

Andrew Gilmour May 29, 2018
Human rights and civil society representatives across the Asian continent face increased repression and government scrutiny in recent months. As UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour observes for the Guardian, “advocates the world over are increasingly threatened, attacked and silenced. The message is clear. No one is immune and many advocates across the region will be...

BBC: Why Humans Need Stories

David Robson May 28, 2018
Stories provide lessons for people to understand one another and their world. Some stories are region-specific, and the most popular tales can fascinate audiences around the world over the course of centuries – whether the cave paintings in France from 30,000 years ago or the Epic of Gilgamesh engraved on tablets 4,000 years ago in Babylonia. Scholars offer theories on why some themes – escapism...

Time: False Promises of Protectionism

Dambisa Moyo May 24, 2018
Critics of globalization insist its policies benefit only a few. Yet “full globalization” may not have been given a fair chance as governments embrace weak models. International economist and author Dambisa Moyo points to three consequences of isolationist trends: First, businesses pursue local models, and relevance of global financial centers will decline, with reduced access to global capital...