| March 2006
Bribery & Corruption | Business & Entrepreneurship | Financial
Economic Policy | Global Economic Growth
| Intellectual Property | WTO |
Industries: Agriculture | Automobiles
| Banking
Innovation: Science &
Technology | Space Research
B1 - The Middle East's Corruption Conundrum
Gillespie, Kate
Current History, Jan 2006, v105, # 687, pp40-46
The author examines political corruption in the Middle East, tracing
cultural as well as historical aspects of graft and corruption.
She describes several cases of political corruption pointing out
that the oil economy is often cited as a major contributor to
corruption but that political patronage has also played a significant
role in corrupt bureaucracies. Kate Gillespie is an associate
professor at the McCombs School of Business and the Center of
Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Order
Article
B2 - The Dynamics of Political Corruption: Re-Examining
the Influence of Democracy
Blake, Charles & Christopher Martin
Democratization, Feb 2006, v13, #1, pp1-14
Political scientists Blake and Martin use the Corruption Perceptions
Index (CPI) to study democracy's influence on the probability
of corruption. The authors argue that there is little to support
the prevailing wisdom that democratic regimes hold governing officials
more accountable than autocratic ones. They demonstrate that economic
and cultural variables are a more predictable check on corruption
than the role of democracy. Building an enduring democracy alone
is not a panacea for controlling corruption, they note, citing
Italy as a case in point. Charles Blake, Professor of Political
Science at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Christopher
Martin, Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies
at University of Chicago. Order Article
Business & entrepreneurship
B3 - Pots of Gold
Vaida, Bara
National Journal, Feb 11, 2006, v38, #6, pp24-32
The article explores the benefits received by heads of Washington,
D.C. trade associations and other non-profit organizations in
2006. It cites the salaries received by some association heads.
Factors which contributed to increases in salaries of the executives
are stated. It also forecasts the trend in salaries of the executives.
Fulltext
B4 - Taking Care of Business
Caruso, Lisa
National Journal, Feb 11, 2006, v38, # 6, pp35-37
The article discusses the habits of highly effective chief executive
officers (CEOs) of trade associations and non-profit organizations
in the U.S. It cites the authority of the CEO in the board of
directors. The importance of communication with the board and
members is explored. It also presents information on how CEOs
dealt with problems. Fulltext
FINANCIAL & MONETARY POLICY
B5 - Truths About Trade and the Dollar
Mahon, Joe
Region (Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis), Dec 2005, v19,
#4, pp35-39
“The article presents information on issues related to the rising
U.S. trade deficit and the weakening U.S. dollar, that were raised
and addressed during the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis board
of directors' management retreat, held in August 2005. At the
retreat, Minneapolis Fed Research Officer Warren Weber gave a
presentation on the alleged connection between the trade deficit
and dollar value. Art Rolnick, Vice President and Director of
Research at Minneapolis Fed, gave a speech on the predictability
of exchange rates.” Joe Mahon is a staff writer for "The
Region”. Fulltext GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH
B6 - Going For Growth 2006
OECD, February 2006 (selections available online)
Going for Growth, published in 2005 for the first time,
intended as an annual complementary report to the OECD Economic
Outlook and OECD Economic Surveys, is designed as an overview
of structural policy developments in OECD countries. Going
for Growth 2005 identified structural policy priorities to
enhance GDP per capita for all member countries, on the basis
of cross-country comparisons of policy settings. Going for
Growth 2006 provides an overview of the progress achieved
by member countries in taking measures consistent with the priorities
identified in the 2005 edition. It also extends the scope of performance
and policy indicators to the area of innovation. Fulltext
B7 - Get Smart! About Intellectual Property
Attdohen, Alan A.
Information Management Journal, Jan/Feb2006, v40, #1, pp36-42
The article provides an overview of the advent of the concept
of intellectual property and describes different forms of intellectual
property: patents, trademarks, copyrights, publicity rights, and
trade secrets. The structure of each of these types of intellectual
property is discussed, in addition to important international
issues, responsibilities and tasks of Record and Information Management
Professionals (RIM). Organizations increasingly depend upon their
intellectual property for a significant portion of their economic
value, and RIM professionals will be challenged to manage and
to preserve the information that documents the ownership and use
of intellectual property. Alan A. Attdohen, CRM, is president
of Naremco Services Inc., a management consulting firm. Fulltext
B8 - Focus on: Intellectual Property Rights
Department of State Publication, January 2006
“Essays by government, academic, and industry experts introduce
intellectual property rights issues and key concepts -- patents,
trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and new forms of IP. Articles
also explain why countries need effective intellectual property
systems, and what governments in each region are doing to enforce
IPR. Includes a glossary of IP terms, a list of print and Internet
IP resources, and a separate resource list for children and young
adults.” Fulltext
trade
B9 - Reforming the World Bank
Einhorn, Jessica
Foreign Affairs, January/February 2006, v85, #1, pp17
The author argues that “the World Bank is a great institution
with major contributions to make in alleviating poverty in middle-income
countries, in creating and disseminating knowledge about development,
in supporting the evolution of a fair and open trading system,
in backstopping private capital flows to emerging markets under
conditions that minimize moral hazard, and in promoting international
initiatives in the global commons. But the world has changed dramatically
since the bank's founding over 60 years ago; the bank must change,
too, if it is to flourish for another 60 years.” Jessica Einhorn
retired in 1998 as Managing Director of the World Bank after almost
20 years of service there. She is now Dean of SAIS, Johns Hopkins
University. Fulltext
B10 - On the Virtues of Multilateral Trade Negotiations
Anderson, Kym
Economic Record, Dec 2005, v81, #255, pg414-438
“The present paper surveys recent estimates, using global economy-wide
simulation models, of the benefits of reducing remaining [distortionary
government subsidies and barriers to international trade] by means
of unilateral reform, multilateral trade negotiations and preferential
trading arrangements. […] Opportunities to reduce remaining distortions,
including by means of the WTO's Doha Development Agenda as compared
with subglobal preferential reform, are examined, before drawing
out the implications of liberalisation for poverty and the environment.”
Kym Anderson is affiliated with the Centre for Economic Policy
Research, London, the University of Adelaide, and the World Bank’s
Development Research Group. Fulltext
B11 - Memorandum
Stokes, Bruce
Foreign Policy; Mar/Apr2006, #153, pp68-72
This article presents a fictional memorandum written by the author
to Pascal Lamy, the director-general of the World Trade Organization.
The author remarks on negotiators missing deadlines in the Doha
Round of multilateral trade negotiations, launched in 2001 with
the goal of removing most of the remaining barriers to free trade.
Bruce Stokes is international economics columnist for the
National Journal. Fulltext
Industries:
AGRICULTURE
B12 - EU and U.S. Organic Markets Face Strong Demand
Under Different Policies
Dimitri, Carolyn and Lydia Oberholtzer
AmberWaves, February 2006
Organic farmland and sales are rapidly growing worldwide, and
the two largest markets are in the European Union (EU) and the
United States. The two regions have adopted different policy approaches
to organic agriculture. This report compares EU and U.S. organic
agriculture policy and examines the organic sectors in the two
regions. Carolyn Dimitri and Lydia Oberholtzer are subject
specialists with the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture. Fulltext
AUTOMOBILES
B13 - Dream Machines
Walczak, Lee and David Welch
Business Week, January 16, 2006, no. 3967, pp. 52-58
“As fierce global competition drives manufacturers to load up
vehicles with once-exotic technologies and to offer more sophisticated
styling for the masses, consumers are seeing an explosion of car
choices. Aided by advances in manufacturing and spurred by the
recognition that standout design is a competitive necessity, the
number of car models, niche vehicles, and options is multiplying
at a dizzying rate. … As auto makers embrace the push toward personalization,
consumers are gaining the ability to tailor a car purchase to
suit their individual lifestyle -- and getting a lot more automotive
bang for the buck. The all-out effort to meet demands for cars
that reflect consumers' personalities represents nothing less
than a reshaping of the automotive industry's future.” This
article is part of BusinessWeek's first annual car guide. Lee
Walczak is Washington Bureau Chief and Davis Welch is Detroit
Bureau Chief of BusinessWeek Magazine. Fulltext
B14 - Clean Vehicles Update
Union of Concerned Scientists. December 2005.
“This fall, the public demand for stronger fuel economy standards
continued to grow, despite automaker resistance. In November,
UCS and activists around the country sent over 100,000 messages
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
demanding stronger fuel economy standards. Also this fall, Congress
reacted to gas price fluctuations and increased public demand
for reducing U.S. oil dependence with a flurry of new legislative
initiatives. Progress also continued at the state level to enact
strong auto emissions standards.” Fulltext
B15 - Changing Business Dynamics in the Automotive Supplier
Sector. The Strategic Use of Mergers & Acquisitions, Outsourcing,
Supply Chain Consolidation and IT By Automotive Suppliers
Swiecki, Bernard and Steve Underwood
CAR - Center for Automotive Research, October 2005, 20p.
“Automotive suppliers find themselves facing a business environment
that continues to grow more competitive. Rising materials coupled
with demands for price cuts, as well as the growing cost of health
care and increased competition have created a business environment
in which suppliers struggle to succeed. While myriad options are
available to suppliers as they cope with this business pressure,
this study focuses on four specific strategies that have recently
been particularly prominent in the supplier sector: Mergers and
& Acquisitions (M&A), outsourcing, supply chain consolidation,
as well as the role Information Technology (IT) plays in these
dynamics." Bernard Swiecki is project manager and Steve Underwood
is research schientist at the Center for Automotive Research in
Ann Arbor. Fulltext
B16 - A Bank, At Your Service
Ackman, Dan
Inc. Magazine, Jan. 2006, v28, #1, pp21-23
At the same time that the total number of banks is shrinking rapidly,
entrepreneur-friendly banks are emerging to fill the void. The boom of start-up
activity comes after 20 years of consolidation. 7,630 banks existed
at the end of 2004, roughly half as many as at the end of 1984.
Consolidation has led to gaps in the market and displaced experienced
bank executives, who know how to raise money and obtain a charter:
In 2004, 127 start-up banks were established, and 147 banks received
charters in tbe first 10 months of 2005. Tbe typical de novo caters
exclusively to a business clientele, and raises approximately
$15 million in assets at the time of its launch. Dan Ackman is
a lawyer, screenwriter and journalist. He has written numerous
articles for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The
Daily News and other newspapers. Fulltext
Innovation:
Science & Technology
B17 - Will Government Programs Spur the Next Breakthrough?
Ruttan, Vernon
Issues in Science & Technology, Winter 2006, v22, #2,
pp55-61
“The article stresses the need for government and industrial investments
to foster technological breakthroughs in the U.S. A look at the
history of the emergence of new technologies revealed that government
R&D spending played a significant role in the development
of almost every general-purpose technology in which the U.S. was
internationally competitive. In particular, defense-related research,
development, and procurement played a pervasive role in the development
of a number of industries, including aircraft, nuclear power,
computer, semiconductor, Internet and satellite communication,
and Earth-observing systems. Historically, new general-purpose
technologies have been the drivers of productivity growth across
broad sectors of the U.S. economy. It cannot be emphasized that
if either scientific and technological limitations or cultural
and institutional constraints should delay the emergence of new
general-purpose technologies over the next several decades, they
will surely affect U.S. productivity growth.” Vernon Ruttan, Regents
Professor Emeritus, Department of Applied Economics and the Department
of Economics, University of Minnesota. Adjunct Professor, Hubert
H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. Fulltext
Space Research
B18 - Outer Limits
Cowen, Ron
Science News, January 14, 2006, v169, #2, pp26-28
New discoveries, which include the first planet-size body found
beyond Pluto, are forcing astronomers to rethink their ideas about
the evolution and origin of the outer solar system. The outer
solar system used to only go as far as Pluto. Suggestions from
as early as the late 1940s that the solar system's outer reaches
contain an abundance of frozen, cometlike objects, were proven
in 1992 when astronomers found the first members of this proposed
population. Scientists now divide the outer solar system into
two distinct regions: The Kuiper belt and a second, more remote
reservoir surrounding the Kuiper belt, called the Oort cloud.
Ron Cowen has been the astronomy writer for Science News for
more than a decade. In 2003 he received the David N. Schramm Award
offered by the High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) of the
American Astronomical Society. Fulltext
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