Home > You are at: News/Analysis, Page 9 ('07) | Previous | Next Posted: 19-23 Mar 07 Resistance & remembrance--Inhuman traffic: On 25 Mar 1807, Brit- ain abolished Slave Trade, in which an est. 3 mln people from Africa were enslaved & transported to its colonies, Unesco (Triangular trade [w/ map] & UN resolution) | British Museum From our archive: 'No question' Ivy League univ founded by money from slave trade, says panel: 'We cannot change the past, but an insti- tution can hold itself accountable,' AP (via DiversityInc), 18 Oct 06 (Link to: Brown U pres. & full report | Yale Daily | Dartmouth) A master of theory & practice--Interview with Guillermo Calvo: The fmr chief economist of Inter-American Development Bank is a lead- ing analyst of both macroeconomics and emerging markets, Finance & Devel., Mar-May '07 World Water Day, 22 Mar 07-Coping with water scarcity: This year's theme highlights increasing significance of water scarcity worldwide & need for increased cooperation to ensure sustainable, efficient & equitable management of scarce water resources. In dueling financial studies, fuel for New York-London rivalry: Each of the two is proclaiming to have come out on top when matched up against other world capitals, by P McGeehan, NYT (via IHTribune), 19 Mar 07 ; The dueling financial studies: Global Financial Centers Index, by Z/Yen Group & City of Lond.[exec sum & full report, pdf] | Cities of Opportunity, by PwC & Partnership for NYC, Mar '07; and Singapore trails Hong Kong in diversifying economy: With its govt-driven economy, Singapore can't rival HK in breeding private cos. But the biggest threat to HK may be air pollution drifting south from China, Bloomberg, 14 Mar 07 Istanbul talks to promote Iraqi reconstruction, News agencies (via New Anatolian/Turkey), 19 Mar 07 (Related: Intl Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq; and Development Fund for Iraq's most recent meeting & statement) Coffee/tea break: The Seven Wonders reconsidered -- Internet cam- paign draws millions of votes, both predictable and puzzling, by J Anderson, Washington Post (free registr reqd), 13 Mar 07 The richest city in the world (no, it's not Dubai): Ninety miles from Dubai, another Xanadu has been decreed. And a $3 billion hotel is just the beginning of the story, by B Gimbel, Fortune, 12 Mar 07 The opening of Libya: Harvard professor Michael Porter is helping to restructure the economy, but skepticism abounds, by S Reed, Business Week, 5-12 Mar 07 James Mann: The three futures of China--What will nation look like in, say, 25 years? It is possible to envision three scenarios--the sooth- ing scenario, upheaval scenario, and a third scenario, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb 07; and Living in China's world--Q&A with Orville Schell: 'While nation is in a state of uncertain transition, it may almost accidentally have arrived at something of a new model for developing nations,' California (Alumni) Mag., Jan-Feb '06 Iran: US concerns & policy responses--The admin.is increasingly pur- suing a containment strategy, incl efforts to persuade Europ. govts to curb trade w/ Iran & pressure on foreign banks not to do business w/ it, Cong.Res Svce (via State Dept site), 20 Feb 07 [pdf, w/ exec sum] Getting inflation-fighting right -- Q&A with Alan Blinder: What are the lessons from inflation of '70s? Ex-Fed vice-chair says we have learned right lessons, but he is concerned wages are not rising, Chal- lenge, Sep-Oct '06 [pdf] Posted: 12-16 Mar 07 Economic forecasting survey -- Subprime mortgage woes are likely to spread: Forecasts for home-sale prices are trimmed but economists say US can avoid recession, Wall Street Journal, 16 Mar 07 Hedge funds, the usual suspects, blamed for volatility in Asia: In the last two years, dozens of these funds have set up shop in Asia, by H Timmons, New York Times (free registr reqd), 15 Mar 07 Hedge funds wary of rules, OK about record keeping: Hedge fund managers at a US congressional hearing generally agreed $1.4 trillion industry does not want more regulation, Reuters, 13 Mar 07; and Precautions that pay off: Risk management and valuation practices in global hedge fund industry--A survey of 60 hedge fund advisers from across the globe, Deloitte, 5 Mar 07 (pls click the 2nd link at bottom) But why Dubai? It's closer to action: Part Las Vegas, part Miami and part NY, it has become a potent rival to Houston's supremacy as the center of the oil business, by G Katz, Houston Chronicle, 12 Mar 07 The global urban real estate boom: Crash? What crash? From San Francisco and Seattle to Moscow and Shanghai, real estate has never been hotter, by J Contreras & assoc, Newsweek, 12-19 Mar 07 Hans-Werner Sinn: Eastern challenge to West European jobs--In Jan, European Union expanded eastward once again. What does this mean for W Europe's labor markets?, Proj Syndicate (via News Bulgaria), 5 Mar 07 Top 10 global economic challenges: Since short-term politicking too often crowds out important long-term challenges, this inaugural list seeks to put spotlight back on most consequential issues, Brookings Inst, 20 Feb 07 (Related links) Zimbabwe -- Going nowhere: The nation suffers the world's highest inflation rate, a stratospheric 1,600% and rising. And four out of five adults are now unemployed, Economist, 20 Feb 07 Ernesto Zedillo: Migranomics instead of walls -- The real dilemma is not between compromising the rule of law & sacrificing the economic benefits produced by illegal immigration, Forbes, 8 Jan 07 Lawrence Summers: Only fairness will assuage the anxious middle-- The unique feature of current expansion is divergence bet. fortunes of capital and fortunes of labor, Financial Times, 10 Dec 06 Catherine Elton: Remittances -- LatAm's faulty lifeline: These are being exalted as a ticket to 'high human development', but the hype obscures negative effects, Audit of Conventional Wisdom/MIT, Mar '06 [pdf] (Related: World Bank--Not manna from heaven) Stocking up on solid advice in volatile times: Q&A w/ Robert Shiller--Biggest question first: Why is this drop happening?, by L Yao, Yale Herald, 8 Mar 07 Abhijit Banerjee: A prize for a brave man--The Nobel Peace Prize is often a prize for courage. When we think of the prize we think of Sakharov in banishment or Mandela in prison. This year's prize is for a different kind of bravery, Exec Times (Bangladesh), Nov '06 'Hedge funds are a safety valve': Nobel laureate Merton defends the flexible regulation of the funds, by I Lafont, Negocios/Spain (via Harvard site), Jan '06 [pdf] (Related: Wall St J -- Risk manager) Posted: 5-9 Mar 07 Boardroom: The ethical mind -- 'If you are not prepared to resign or be fired for what you believe in, then you are not a worker, let alone a professional. You are a slave,' Harvard Business Review, Mar '07 Exec sum (scroll) [w/ link to full text, free access for Mar] Coffee/tea break: Hal Varian--The future of leisure that never arrived: Reading this column may never be as good as the first item on your leisure time, but perhaps we can aspire to beating out 'lunch break', NYT (via UC Berkeley), 8 Mar 07 Brazil, the ethanol superpower: Brazilian gasoline is 23% ethanol, and 2 out of every 3 cars sold are Flex models that can run on either gas or ethanol, Time, 7 Mar 07 (Related: Forbes--Hot for Brazil; and OECD's recent economic survey) Kenneth Rogoff: The hedge fund hegemon -- The recent volatility in world markets should give pause to those who say German leaders,in arguing for greater transparency in hedge funds, are just sore losers, Proj Synd (via Business Day/S Africa), 7 Mar 07 Jeffrey Sachs: Threats of war, chances for peace -- Although climate change, deforestation & groundwater depletion are all serious threats to sustainable development,biggest threat to future well-being remains specter of war, Scientific American, Mar '07 The bubble guru's take on housing market: Yale's Robert Shiller thinks market hasn't hit bottom,but he leaves room for human factor, by C Farrell, Business Week, 5-12 Mar 07 (Related: Launch of natl version of S&P/Case-Shiller(R) Home Price Indices) Mohamed El-Erian: Dealing with global fluidity--Fin.markets are seen as providing best unbiased insights into future econ developments. But recently, many market segments appear to be sending conflicting signals, Finance & Development, Mar '07 Paul Krugman: The big meltdown -- Writing a fictional essay dated a year from now, the author says if we're going to have a crisis, here's how, New York Times (via Contre Info/France), 2 Mar 07 Switzerland named most competitive in travel & tourism report: The first ranking of its kind aims to measure factors that make it attractive to develop sector in individual nations, World Econ Forum, 1 Mar 07 (w/ links to full rankings & highlights | Exec sum [pdf]) What the heck is a carry trade?: Many investors might not have slightest idea what 'yen carry trade' is, and just how it would impact stocks, by T Beyers & assoc, Motley Fool, 1 Mar 07 (Related: Carry trade--NYT Dict. of Investing [via Duke U]; & CNBC) World Bank & IMF--Sister-talk: Last year the two 'sisters' asked sev- eral notables to examine their relations at length. This week they re- leased their report, Economist, 1 Mar 07 (Link to: IMF statement on new chief economist & his homepage) Angelina Jolie: Justice for Darfur -- History shows that there will be another Darfur in vicious cycle of bloodshed & retribution.This might be the moment we stop the cycle of violence, Wash.Post (free registr reqd), 28 Feb 07 (Related: Shortlisted at CFR [Link idea courtesy of Time]) Vanda Felbab-Brown: Opium wars -- Without stability throughout nation & security on the ground, alternative livelihood programs will not have a chance to take off, Wall St J (via Brookings), 20 Feb 07 (Related: Building a New Afghanistan [2007]) Nook & cranny: Three Nobel laureates -- Q&A with Robert Solow, Kenneth Arrow, and Amartya Sen: We asked them to reflect on what economists have learned in the last generation & in what direction the profession should be heading, Challenge, Feb 2000 (extended) [pdf] Posted: 26 Feb-2 Mar 07 Contagion? No, wake-up call: After China's speculators propelled the bourse up by 135%, what's a measly 9% dip? To global markets, ap- parently a great deal, Business Week, 2 Mar 07 (w/ links to: Shanghai shuffle; & Emerging-market risk graphic) Stephen Roach: Cooling China's growth -- Tue.'s stock market slide may be overdue first step toward venting its overheated economy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar 07 [Link info courtesy of CSR/Beijing] Analyzing in aftermath of collapse: The day after a 9% decline in Shanghai's stockmarket triggered worldwide collapse in equity prices, China experts were still asking, 'What was that all about?', San Fran- cisco Chronicle, 1 Mar 07 (Related: China's market meltdown) Veteran fund manager sees emerging markets back on track, Dow Jones (via Beurs/Netherlands), 28 Feb 07 (Related: AP [via its host site]--Asian, European markets fall amid global jitters, but Chinese stocks recover) John Taylor: Billions over Baghdad -- 'Who in their right mind would send 360 tons of cash into a war zone?,' New York Times (free registr reqd), 27 Feb 07 Robert Shiller: Inequality and trustworthiness -- Leaders seem to be convinced inequality, if allowed to persist, will lead to social discord & even violence. But is inequality the real problem?, Proj Syndicate (via Daily Times/Pak.), 22 Feb 07 Portfolio: Is the emerging markets craze over? -- After 6 years of trouncing global equity markets, could this finally be the year that emerging markets stumble?, US News & WR, 20 Feb 07 (w/ related links) Gary Hufbauer & assoc: Learning correct lesson about protectionism -- Japan, S Korea & Taiwan are sometimes depicted as historical posters for fostering growth through protection, Economic Perspec- tives, Jan '07; and Alice Amsden: Ruling out natl devel.? States, markets & globalization -- After WWII, Korea & Taiwan were in a privileged position. They had US foreign aid, a lot of education, good infrastructure & fairly modern textile facilities, Leontief Prize, Nov '02 (w/ link to remarks; Related-- Nobelist Leontief) [Link idea courtesy of MM/ny] Coffee/tea break: Clarence Page--Africa's place in the movie theaters: If best movies tell us something about ourselves, we're only beginning to hear what Africa can tell us about us, PBS, 17 Jan 07 (Related: USA Today--Films find heart in Africa, w/ link to photos) Newsroom: C Christensen & A Davis--The future of newspapers: Big 3 US auto makers. Minicomputer makers. All fell, or are falling. Is there reason to believe newspaper cos. can survive?, Forbes, 11 Oct 06 Javier Santiso: Democracy in (Latin) America -- LatAm nations vary widely in their institutional capacity to conduct econ policy analysis. Such capacity is necessary for reform but capacity for implementa- tion is also needed, OECD Policy Insight, Sep '06 [pdf] Posted: 19-23 Feb 07 Jeffrey Frankel: Responding to crises--They say there are 'no atheists in foxholes'. Perhaps, then, there are also no libertarians in crises, Cato Inst Journal (to appear) | Slides (via Harvard site), Mar-Jun '07 [pdf] (extended; emerging markets crises sec., p6) Coherence urged bet. trade & social policies: A joint study by Intl Labor Org & World Trade Org suggests globalization can be good for most workers if appropriate econ policies are in place, EurActiv, 21 Feb 07 (Link to: Intl Trade Union statement; & ILO-WTO report, w/ exec sum) Information, please: Watchdog groups, some lawmakers say con- gressional reports should be made public, by E Williamson, Wash- ington Post (free registr reqd), 19 Feb 07; and Iraq's debt relief -- Procedure and potential implications for intl debt relief: Since '03, negotiations have taken place in various fora & led to cancellation of significant amount of Iraq's $125b external debt, Cong. Res Svce (via State Dept site), 6 Dec 06 [pdf] Asian universities switch to English: To stop the flight of their best & brightest to the Ivy League, top Asian universities are moving to give many, even most, of their courses in English, Newsweek, 19 Feb 07 'Frontier' stocks lead emerging markets as investors accept more risks: Frontier markets are dominated by cos. too small and too thinly traded to be 'investable' for most fund managers, Bloomberg, 19 Feb 07 Michael Spence: Mr Counterintuition -- A conversation with Tom Schelling: How the Nobel economist became interested in the issue of nuclear deterrence, Wall Street Journal, 17 Feb 07; and Graham Allison: Bold act of venture philanthropy -- Buffett's gamble tips odds toward nuclear nonproliferation: Ex-Sen. Nunn put Buffett's $50m check on the table & challenged others to match it w/ $100m, Omaha World Herald (via Harvard site), 31 Dec 06 Emerging markets to see dip in foreign direct investment: Standard & Poor's reports rates of growth of FDI are unlikely to be as impressive as in past 3 years, iafrica (S Africa), 15 Feb 07 Niall Ferguson: The godfather -- Russia's geopolitical power has become proportional to the value of its energy exports, Time, 15 Feb 07 (Related: OECD--Recent economic survey of Russia: Exec sum) Coffee/tea break: Mark Mobius--A postcard from Mumbai: On the road to a modern chemical plant we encountered large trucks over-weighed w/ axle-breaking loads and camel-drawn carts pulling bulging piles of hay, Citywire (UK), 25 Jan 07 Robert Frank: Payday loans are a scourge, but should wrath be aimed at the lenders?: Each society must decide whether the costs of easy credit outweigh benefits, NYTimes (via author's site), 18 Jan 07 [pdf] << Previous Home Next >> Copyright (c) 2001-2008 Leonardo L. Sta. Romana All rights reserved. |
| the unofficial field guide to emerging markets |